.o.^ 


J".  *z 


Sifom  t^e  feifitari?  of 

gprofcBBor  ^amuef  (gltffer 

in  pernor)?  of 

Subge  ^amuef  (nttffer  Q0recftinrib5e 

^dmuef  (piffer  QBrecftintibge  £ong 

to  t^e  feifirati?  of 

rprincefon  C^eofogicaf  ^emtnarp 

BX  9223  .M33  1839 
M'Crie,  Thomas,  1772-1835. 
The  life  of  John  Knox,  the 
Scottish  reformer 


-^mi'^v/^^^ 


LIFE 


OF 


JOHN      K   N  OX, 


THE 


SCOTTISH  REFORMER, 


ABRIDGED  FROM  McCRIE'S  LIFE  OF  KNOX, 


PHILADELPHIA : 
PRESBYTER L\N  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION. 

WILLIAM    S.    MARTIEN,    PUBLISHING    AGENT. 
1839. 


Entered  according-  to  the  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year 
1839,  by  A.  W,  Mitchell,  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk 
of  the  District  Court,  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 


CONTENTS. 

Page 

Period  I. 

From  his  birth,  in  1505,  to  his  embracing  the 
Reformed  Religion,  in  1542,  .         .  1 

Period  II. 

From  his  embracing  the  Reformed  Religion, 
in  1542,  to  his  release  from  the  French  gal- 
leys in  1549, 20 

Period  III. 

From  his  release  from  the  French  galleys  in 
1 549,  to  his  departure  from  England  in  1 554,   44 

Period  IV. 

PVom  his  departure  from  England,  to  his  in- 
vitation to  Scotland  by  the  Protestant  nobi- 
lity in  1557,         .....         71 

Period  V. 

From  his  invitation  into  Scotland  in  1557,  to 
his  settlement  as  minister  of  Edinburg,  upon 
the  establishment  of  the  Reformation  in 
1560, 106 


4  CONTENTS. 

Period  VI, 

From  his  settlement  as  a  minister  at  Edin- 
burg,  to  his  acquittal  from  a  charge  of  trea- 
son, by  the  Privy  Council,  in  1563,  157 

Period  VII. 

From  his  acquittal  from  a  charge  of  treason, 
by  the  Privy  Council,  to  his  being  struck 
with  apoplexy  in  1570,         .         .         .       200 

Period  VIII. 

From  his  being  struck  with  apoplexy  in  1570, 
to  his  death  in  1 572,  .         ,         233 

Prayer  of  John  Knox,  .         .         .         279 

His  last  will  and  words,         .         .         .         282 


THE  LIFE 


OF 


JOHN    KNOX. 

John  Knox   was  born  at  a  village  in   East 
Lothian,  in  the  year  1505  ;  or  as  the  common 
tradition  is,  at  Haddington,  the  principal  town 
of  the  county.     His  parents  were  respectable, 
and  in  good  circumstances,  for  they  were  able 
to  give  their  son  a  liberal  education.     In  his 
youth  he  was  put  to  the  grammar  school  of 
Haddington,  and  when  he   had  acquired  the 
rudiments  of  the  Latin,  he  was  sent  to  the 
University  of  St.   Andrews,  at  that  time  the 
most    celebrated    seminary    in    the    kingdom. 
The  revival  of  learning  in  Italy  and  France, 
had  not  at  this  period  reached  Scotland,  in 
any  considerable  degree:  most  of  those  who 
became   learned,  received   their  education  in 
foreign  countries.     But  the  Latin  was  com- 
monly taught  in  her  schools  to  such  an  extent 
as  to  enable  her  priests  to  perform  their  pub- 
lic service  in  the  church,  but  the  Greek  was 

2 


6  THE  LIFE   OF 

not  taught  in  the  schools,  commonly,  and  the 
Hebrew  was  unknown,  until  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Reformation.  Knox  ac- 
quired a  knowledge  of  the  Greek  language 
before  he  reached  middle  age  ;  but  he  remain- 
ed ignorant  of  the  Hebrew,  until  he  resided 
on  the  continent ;  when  he  had  the  opportu- 
nity of  supplying  that  deficiency  in  his  educa- 
tion. 

Often  the  character  and  attainments  of  a 
pupil  depend  very  much  on  the  ability  and 
skill  of  the  teacher  to  whose  tuition  he  is  first 
committed.  It  was  peculiarly  favourable  to 
the  improvement  of  Knox,  that,  at  this  time 
John  Mair,  or  Major,  as  he  was  called  on  the 
continent,  was  a  professor  of  philosophy  at 
St.  Andrews.  This  man  was  considered  an 
oracle  in  the  sciences  which  he  taught,  and  was 
the  preceptor  of  Knox,  and  of  the  celebrated 
George  Buchanan.  Major,  though  a  minister 
of  the  Catholic  church,  had  imbibed  many 
opinions,  which  were  afterwards  maintained 
by  the  Protestants.  His  sentiments  were  also 
favourable  to  civil  liberty,  and  in  opposition 
to  the  prescriptive  right  of  kings.  But,  judg- 
ing from  his  writings,  this  man  was  very  little 


JOHN  KNOX.  7 

capable  of  communicating  much  valuable  in- 
formation: most  of  the  questions  which  he  dis- 
cussed are  of  the  most  trifling  kind.  It  is  not 
wonderful,  therefore,  that  such  minds  as  those 
of  Knox  and  Buchanan,  became  disgusted  with 
the  studies  to  which  their  attention  had  been 
directed,  and  overleaping  the  boundaries  pre- 
scribed by  their  timid  conductor,  engaged, 
each  according  to  the  bent  of  his  genius,  in 
exploring  the  extensive  fields  of  literature. 
And  while  Buchanan  ranged  through  the  de- 
lightful fields  of  classical  learning,  and  particu- 
larly poetry,  Knox  directed  his  chief  attention 
to  divine  truth. 

It  must  not  be  supposed,  however,  that 
Knox  was  able  at  once  to  free  himself  from 
the  trammels  of  that  scholastic  theology,  in 
which  he  was  instructed:  light  did  not  burst 
upon  his  mind  at  once,  but,  for  some  time,  he 
was  held  enchained  in  the  mazy  labyrinth  of 
scholastic  logic.  After  he  was  created  Master 
of  Arts,  he  taught  philosophy  in  the  univer- 
sity, as  an  assistant,  or  private  lecturer ;  and 
he  acquired  so  much  celebrity  in  teaching, 
that  he  was  considered  to  equal,  if  not  excel 
his  preceptor.     In  consequence  of  his  rapid 


8  THE  LIFE  OF 

progress  and  high  attainments  in  the  literature 
in  vogue,  he  was  admitted  to  priest's  orders, 
before  he  had  attained  the  canonical  age. 

His  studies  now  received  a  new  direction; 
for,  not  satisfied  with  mere  excerpts  from  an- 
cient authors,  which  he  found  in  the  writings 
of  scholastic  divines,  he  resolved  to  have 
recourse  to  the  original  works.  In  them 
he  found  a  method  of  investigating  truth, 
to  which  he  had  hitherto  been  a  stranger. 
Among  the  fathers  of  the  Christian  Church, 
Jerome  and  Augustine,  attracted  his  particu- 
lar attention.  By  the  writings  of  the  former, 
he  was  led  to  the  Scriptures  as  the  only  pure 
fountain  of  divine  truth,  and  was  instructed  in 
the  utility  of  studying  them  in  the  original 
languages.  In  the  works  of  the  latter,  he 
found  religious  sentiments,  very  opposite  to 
those  taught  in  the  Romish  church.  From 
this  time  he  renounced  the  study  of  scholastic 
theology ;  and  although  not  yet  completely 
emancipated  from  superstition,  his  mind  was 
fitted  for  improving  the  means  which  Provi- 
dence had  prepared  for  leading  him  to  a  fuller 
and  more  comprehensive  view  of  the  system 
of  evangelical  religion.  This  favourable  change 


JOHN  KNOX. 


of  his  sentiments  and  course  of  study,  took 
place  about  the  year  1535;  but  he  did  not 
avow  himself  a  Protestant,  until  the  year 
1542. 

It  will  be  necessary,  before  proceeding  fur- 
ther, to  take  a  comprehensive  survey  of  the 
state  of  religion  in  Scotland  at  this  time ; 
without  some  knowledge  of  which,  the  abso- 
lute necessity  of  a  reformation,  cannot  be  fully 
understood. 

The  corruptions  by  which  Christianity  was 
universally  depraved,  had  grown  to  a  greater 
height  in  Scotland,  than  in  any  other  nation 
within  the  pale  of  the  western  church.  Super- 
stition and  religious  imposture,  in  their  grossest 
forms,  gained  an  easy  admission  among  a  rude 
and  ignorant  people.  By  means  of  these,  the 
clergy  attained  to  an  exorbitant  degree  of 
power  and  opulence  ;  which  were  accompa- 
nied, as  they  always  have  been,  with  the  cor- 
ruption of  their  Order,  and  of  the  whole  sys- 
tem of  religion. 

The  full  half  of  the  wealth  of  the  nation 
belonged  to  the  clergy ;  and  the  greater  part 
of  this  was  in  the  hands  of  a  few  of  their  num- 
ber, who  had  the  control  of  the  whole  body 


10  THE  LIFE  OF 

Avarice,  ambition,  and  the  love  of  secular 
pomp,  reigned  among  the  superior  orders. 
Bishops  and  abbots,  rivalled  the  first  nobility 
in  magnificence,  and  maintained  the  precedence 
of  them  in  honours.  They  were  privy  coun- 
sellors, and  Lords  of  session,  as  well  as  of  par- 
liament, and  had  lo!ig  engrossed  the  principal 
offices  of  state.  A  vacant  bishopric  or  abbacy 
called  forth  powerful  competitors,  who  con- 
tended for  it  as  for  a  principality,  or  petty 
kingdom ;  and  it  was  obtained  by  similar 
acts,  and  not  unfrequently  taken  possession 
of,  by  the  same  weapons.  Inferior  benefices 
were  openly  put  to  sale,  or  bestowed  on  the 
illiterate  and  unworthy  minions  of  courtiers; 
on  dice  players,  strolling  bards,  and  the  illegi- 
timate children  of  bishops.  Pluralities  were 
multiplied  without  bounds,  and  patrons  kept 
benefices  for  favourites  until  they  should  be 
of  a  suitable  age  to  enter  on  their  possession ; 
so  that  sometimes  whole  parishes  were  de- 
prived of  all  the  mepns  of  religious  instruction 
and  public  worship  for  years  together.  There 
was  no  such  thing  known,  as'  for  a  bishop  to 
preach  :  indeed,  in  all  the  history  of  the  Scot- 
tish Church,  from  the  time  of  the  establish- 


JOHN  KNOX.  11 

ment  of  episcopacy  to  the  reformation,  no 
instance  of  the  kind  can  be  found.  The  prac- 
tice was  gone  into  disuse  among  all  the  se- 
cular clergy,  and  preaching  was  wholly  de- 
volved on  the  secular  monks,  who  employed  it 
for  the  most  mercenary  purposes.  As  might 
be  expected,  the  lives  of  the  clergy  were  far 
from  being  pure ;  but,  corrupted  by  wealth 
and  idleness,  they  were  a  scandal  to  religion, 
and  an  outrage  on  decency.  Bishops,  though 
under  a  vow  of  chastity,  kept  their  mistresses, 
and  provided  their  illegitimate  sons  with  bene- 
fices in  the  church,  and  gave  their  daughters 
in  marriage  to  the  sons  of  the  nobility  and 
principal  gentry. 

Through  the  blind  devotion  of  princes  and 
nobles,  m.onasteries,  those  nurseries  of  super- 
stition and  idleness,  had  greatly  multiplied  in 
the  nation;  and  although  they  had  universally 
degenerated,  and  had  become  the  haunts  of 
lewdness  and  debauchery,  it  was  deemed  im- 
pious and  sacrilegous  to  reduce  their  number, 
abridge  their  privileges,  or  alienate  their  funds. 
Swarms  of  monks,  like  locusts,  devoured  the 
fruits  of  the  land,  and  filled  the  air  w4th  pesti- 
lential infection. 


12  THE  LIFE  OF 

The  ignorance  of  the  clergy  respecting  reli- 
gion, was  as  gross  as  the  dissoluteness  of  their 
morals.  Even  bishops  were  not  ashamed  to 
confess  that  they  were  unacquainted  with  the 
canon  of  their  faith;  and  that  they  had  never 
read  any  part  of  the  sacred  Scriptures,  except 
what  they  met  with  in  their  missals.  Under 
such  pastors  the  people  could  not  but  perish 
for  lack  of  knowledge.  The  book  which  was 
able  to  make  them  wise  unto  salvation  was 
locked  up  from  them,  and  the  use  of  it  in  their 
own  tongue  prohibited,  under  the  heaviest  pe- 
nalties. The  religious  service  was  mumbled 
over  in  a  dead  language,  which  many  of  the 
priests  themselves  did  not  understand,  and 
some  of  them  could  scarcely  read;  and  the 
greatest  pains  were  taken  to  keep  the  people 
in  profound  ignorance,  by  shutting  up  every 
avenue  of  Christian  instruction.  Of  the  doc- 
trines of  Christianity  scarcely  any  thing  re- 
mained but  the  name.  The  people,  instead  of 
being  taught  to  offer  up  their  adorations  to 
God,  were  directed  to  divide  them  among  an 
innumerable  company  of  inferior  objects.  A 
plurality  of  mediators,  too,  shared  the  honour 
of  procuring  the  divine  favour  with  the  one 


JOHN  KNOX.  13 

"  Mediator  between  God  and  man;"  and  more 
petitions  were  presented  to  the  virgin  Mary, 
than  to  Him  "whom  the  Father  heareth  al- 
ways." The  sacrifice  of  the  mass  was  repre- 
sented as  procuring  forgiveness  for  the  living 
and  the  dead,  to  the  infinite  disparagement  of 
that  sacrifice  by  which  Jesus  Christ  expiated  sin 
and  procured  everlasting  redemption;  and  the 
consciences  of  men  were  withdrawn  from  faith 
in  the  merits  of  the  Saviour,  to  a  delusive  reli- 
ance upon  priestly  absolutions,  papal  pardons, 
and  voluntary  penances.  Instead  of  the  pure, 
spiritual  worship  enjoined  in  the  Scriptures, 
the  people  were  taught  that  if  they  repeated 
their  Latin  prayers,  and  abstained  from  flesh 
on  Fridays,  and  punctually  paid  their  tithes 
and  other  church  dues,  their  salvation  would 
be  certainly  secured.  It  is  hardly  possible  to 
conceive  how  empty  and  ridiculous  those  har- 
angues were  which  the  monks  delivered  for 
sermons.  Legendary  tales,  concerning  the 
founder  of  some  religious  order,  his  wonderful 
sanctity,  the  miracles  which  he  wrought,  his 
combats  with  the  devil,  his  watchings,  fast- 
ings, and  flagellations;  the  virtues  of  holy 
water,   chrism,   crossing,   and  exorcism;   the 


14  THE  LIFE  OF 

horrors  of  purgatory  with  the  number  released, 
from  it  by  tlie  intercession  of  some  powerful 
saint;  these,  with  low  jests,  table-talk,  and  fire- 
side scandal,  formed  the  favourite  topics  of 
their  preachers;  and  were  served  up  to  the 
people  instead  of  the  pure,  solid,  and  sublime 
doctrines  of  the  Bible. 

The  beds  of  the  dying  were  besieged,  and 
their  last  moments  disturbed  by  avaricious 
priests,  who  laboured  to  extort  bequests  to 
themselves  or  to  the  church.  And  claims  for 
tithes,  &:c.,  were  always  ready  to  be  laid  in 
against  the  deceased,  which  if  they  were  not 
quickly  discharged,  the  thunders  of  ecclesiasti- 
cal censures  were  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
superstitious  fears  of  survivors.  Divine  ser- 
vice was  neglected,  and  the  churches  deserted, 
except  on  a  few  festival  days,  and  served 
chiefly  as  an  asylum  for  malefactors,  places  of 
traffic,  or  resorts  for  pastime. 

From  this  imperfect  sketch  of  the  state  of 
religion  in  Scotland,  we  may  see  how  false 
the  representation  is,  which  some  persons 
would  impose  on  us,  as  though  popery  were 
a  system,  erroneous  indeed,  but  purely  specu- 
lative;   superstitious,  but  harmless;   provided 


JOHN  KNOX.  15 

it  had  not  accidentally  been  accompanied  with 
intolerance  and  cruelty.  The  very  reverse  is 
the  truth.  It  may  be  safely  said,  that  there  is 
not  one  of  its  erroneous  tenets,  or  of  its  super- 
stitious practices,  which  was  not  either  origi- 
nally contrived,  or  artfully  accommodated,  to 
advance  and  support  some  practical  abuse,  to 
aggrandize  the  ecclesiastical  order,  secure  to 
them  immunity  from  civil  jurisdiction,  sanc- 
tion their  encroachments  upon  secular  authori- 
ties, vindicate  their  usurpations  on  the  con- 
sciences of  men,  cherish  implicit  obedience  to 
the  decisions  of  the  church,  and  extinguish 
free  inquiry  and  liberal  science. 

To  the  revival  of  the  primitive  doctrines 
and  institutions  of  Christianity,  by  the  preach- 
ing and  writing  of  the  reformers,  and  to  those 
controversies  by  which  popish  errors  were 
confuted  from  Scripture,  we  are  chiefly  in- 
debted for  the  overthrow  of  superstition,  igno- 
rance, and  despotism;  and  for  the  blessings, 
political  and  religious,  which  we  enjoy,  we 
are  indebted  to  the  reformation  from  po- 
pery. 

How  grateful  should  we  be  to  divine  pro- 
vidence for  this  happy  revolution !  For  those 


16  THE  LIFE  OF 

persons  do  but  "  sport  with  their  own  imagi- 
nations/' who  flatter  themselves  that  it  must 
have  taken  place   in   the  ordinary  course-  of 
human  affairs,  and  overlook  the  many  convin- 
cing proofs  of  the  superintending  direction  of 
superior  wisdom,  in  the  whole  combination  of 
circumstances  which  contributed  to  bring  about 
the  reformation   in   this  countrv,  as  well  as 
throughout  Europe.     How  much  are  we  in- 
debted to  those  men,  who  under  God,  were 
the  instruments  in  effecting  it;  who  cheerfully 
jeoparded   their    lives,   to    achieve   a   design 
which  involved  the  happiness  of  millions  un- 
born; boldly  attacked  the  system  of  error  and 
corruption,  fortified  by  popular  credulity,  cus- 
tom, and  laws,  fenced  with  the  most  dreadful 
penalties,  and  having  forced  the  strong  hold  of 
superstition^  and  penetrated  into  the  recesses 
of  its  temple,  tore  away  the  veil  which  con- 
cealed  the  monstrous  idol  which  the   whole 
world  had  so  long  worshipped,  and  dissolving 
the  magic  spell  by  which  the  human  mind  was 
bound,  and  restored  it  to  liberty!  How  cri- 
minal must  they  be,  who,  sitting  at  ease  under 
their  vines  and  figtrees,  planted   by  the  un- 
wearied labours,  and  watered  by  the  blood  of 


JOHN  KNOX.  17 

these  patriots,  disown  or  disesteem  the  invalu- 
able privileges  which  they  inherit;  or  mani- 
fest their  ignorance  of  the  expense  at  which 
they  were  purchased^  by  the  most  unworthy 
treatment  of  those  to  whom  they  owe  them; 
misrepresent  their  actions,  calumniate  their 
motives,  and  cruelly  lacerate  their  memories. 

The  reformed  doctrine  had  made  consid- 
erable progress  in  Scotland,  before  it  was 
embraced  by  Knox.  Patrick  Hamilton,  a 
youth  of  noble  descent,  obtained  the  honour, 
not  conferred  on  many  of  his  rank,  of  first  an 
nouncing  its  glad  tidings  to  his  countrymen, 
and  sealing  them  with  his  blood. 

As  early  as  the  year  1526,  a  gleam  of  light 
was,  by  some  unknown  means,  imparted  to 
the  mind  of  that  noble  youth,  amidst  the  dark- 
ness which  brooded  around  him.  Guided  by 
this,  he  directed  his  course  to  Wittemberg; 
and  after  conferring  with  the  German  reform- 
ers, went  to  prosecute  the  study  of  the  Scrip- 
tures in  the  Protestant  University  of  Marpurg, 
under  the  direction  of  Francis  Lambert  of 
Avignon.  In  that  retreat,  he  was  seized  with 
such  an  irresistible  desire  to  communicate  to 
his  countrymen  the  knowledge  which  he  had 


18  THE  LIFE  OF 

received,  that  he  left  Marpurg,  contrary  to  the 
remonstrances  of  his  acquaintance,  and  re- 
turned to  Scotland.  His  freedom  in  exposing 
the  reigning  corruptions,  soon  drew  upon  him 
the  jealousy  of  the  popish  clergy,  who  decoyed 
him  to  St.  Andrews;  where,  on  the  last  day 
of  February,  1528,  he  obtained  the  crown  of 
martyrdom,  by  the  hands  of  Archbishop  Bea- 
toun.  The  murder  of  Hamilton  was  after- 
wards avenged  in  the  blood  of  the  nephew  and 
successor  of  his  persecutor,  and  according  to 
the  young  martyr's  prediction,  "the  flames  in 
which  he  expired,  were,  in  the  course  of  one 
generation  to  enlighten  all  Scotland;  and  to 
consume  with  avenging  fury  the  Catholic  su- 
perstition, the  papal  power,  and  the  hierarchy 
itself." 

The  execution  of  Hamilton  excited  the  at- 
tention of  all  classes  of  persons  at  St.  Andrews, 
to  inquire  into  his  opinions;  and  the  conse- 
quence was,  the  secret  spreading  of  these  opin- 
ions. And  there  were  not  wanting  instru- 
ments within  the  university,  who  successfully 
instilled  the  evangelical  doctrine  into  the 
minds  of  their  pupils.  Among  these  was 
Gawin  Logie,  rector  of  St.  Leonard's  college; 


JOHN  KNOX.  19 

SO  that  it  became  proverbial  to  say  of  one  sus- 
pected of  Lutheranism,  that  he  had  drunk  of 
St.  Leonard's  well. 

The  clergy  alarmed  at  the  progress  of  the 
new  opinions,  were  on  the  alert,  and  made 
diligent  inquisition  after  heretics:  and  a  num- 
ber of  excellent  men  suffered  a  cruel  death 
between  1530  and  1540.  Several  persons, 
however,  purchased  their  lives  by  a  recanta- 
tion. Numbers  made  their  escape  to  England 
and  the  continent,  among  whom  were  Gawin 
Logie,  Alexander  Seatoun,  Alexander  Aless, 
John  McBee,  John  Fife,  John  Macdowal, 
John  Mackbray,  George  Buchanan,  James 
Harrison,  and  Robert  Richardson.  These  vi- 
olent proceedings  could  not  arrest  the  progress 
of  truth.  By  merchants,  by  tracts,  and  by 
copies  of  Tindall's  version  of  the  Bible,  the 
light  continued  to  increase  and  spread,  so  that 
in  the  year  1540,  the  reformed  doctrine  could 
reckon  among  its  converts,  besides  a  multitude 
of  common  people,  many  persons  of  rank  and 
respectability.  From  the  year  1540  to  1542, 
the  number  of  the  reformed  rapidly  increased. 
Twice  did  the  clergy  attempt  to  cut  them  off 
by  one  desperate  blow.     They  presented  to 


20  THE  LIFE  OF 

the  king  a  list,  containing  the  names  of  some 
hundreds,  whom  they  denounced  as  heretics, 
and  endeavoured  to  procure  his  consent  to 
their  condemnation,  by  flattering  him  with  the 
prospect  of  the  immense  riches  which  would 
accrue  to  him  from  their  forfeiture.  The  first 
time  the  proposal  was  made,  James  V.  rejected 
it  with  strong  marks  of  displeasure;  but  so 
violent  at  last,  was  the  antipathy  which  he 
conceived  against  his  nobility,  and  so  much 
had  he  fallen  under  the  influence  of  the  clergy, 
that  it  is  highly  probable  that  he  would  have 
yielded  to  their  solicitation  had  not  the  disas- 
ter happened  which  put  an  end  to  his  unhappy 
life. 


PERIOD    II. 

FROM  HIS  EMBRACING   THE   REFORMED   RELIGION  IN  1542,  TO 
HIS  RELEASE  FROM  THE  FRENCH  GALLEYS  IN  1549. 

Knox's  change  of  sentiments  could  not  long 
be  concealed;  it  was  soon  rendered  manifest 
by  the  altered  tone  of  his  lectures,  and  by  the 
freedom  with  which  he  denounced   the  cor- 


JOHN  KNOX.  21 

ruptions  and  superstitions  of  the  Romish 
Church. 

It  was  impossible,  therefore,  for  him  to  re- 
main in  safety,  at  St.  Andrews,  where  Cardi- 
nal Beatoun  had  undisputed  sway.  He  there- 
fore, left  the  place,  and  retired  to  the  South, 
where,  in  a  short  time,  he  avowed  his  full  be- 
lief of  the  Protestant  doctrine.  The  clergy, 
with  the  Cardinal  at  their  head,  were  alarmed 
at  Knox's  open  defection,  and  not  only  pro- 
ceeded to  degrade  him  from  the  priesthood, 
but  employed  assassins  to  way-lay  him,  by 
whose  hands  he  must  have  fallen,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  protection  of  the  laird  of  Lang- 
niddrie. 

Thomas  Williams,  a  friar  of  eminence,  was 
very  serviceable  in  leading  Knox  to  a  more 
perfect  knowledge  of  evangelical  truth,  as  was 
also,  John  Rough,  a  monk  of  Stirling,  who 
had  twice  visited  Rome,  and  had  his  eyes 
opened  to  see  the  incurable  corruptions  of  that 
"  mother  of  harlots,"  and  had  been  led  to 
reverence  the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  the  foun- 
tain of  truth.  But  the  person  to  whom  our 
reformer  was  most  indebted,  was  George 
Wishart,  a  young  gentleman  of  good  family, 

3* 


22  THE  LIFE  OF 

who  had  been  banished  from  the  country  by- 
Cardinal  Beatoun,  for  teaching  the  Greek  Tes- 
tament. This  young  man,  after  his  banish- 
ment, having  resided  some  time  at  the  univer- 
sity of  Cambridge,  returned  to  his  native 
country,  in  the  year  1544,  in  company  with 
the  commissioners,  who  had  been  sent  to  ne- 
gotiate a  treaty  with  Henry  VIII.  of  England. 
Few  persons  mentioned  in  ecclesiastical 
history  ever  possessed  more  shining  and  use- 
ful qualities,  than  Wishart.  Excelling  the 
rest  of  his  countrymen  in  learning,  of  the  most 
persuasive  eloquence,  irreproachable  life,  cour- 
teous and  aflfable  in  manners,  he  was  more- 
over, animated  by  a  spirit  of  fervent  piety, 
zeal,  and  courage  in  the  cause  of  truth,  and 
these  tempered  with  uncommon  meekness, 
modesty,  patience,  prudence,  and  charity.  In 
his  tour  of  preaching,  through  Scotland,  he 
was  usually  accompanied  by  some  of  the  prin- 
cipal gentry;  and  the  people  who  flocked  to 
hear  him,  were  delighted  with  his  discourses. 
To  this  eminent  preacher,  Knox  attached 
himself,  and  profited  greatly  by  his  sermons 
and  private  instructions.  Wishart  was  highly 
pleased  with  the  zeal  and  talents  of  Knox,  and 


JOHN    KNOX.  23 

seems  to  have  presaged  his  future  usefulness; 
at  the  same  time,  he  entertained  a  strong  pre- 
sentiment of  his  own  approaching  martyrdom. 

Knox,  having  relinquished  all  thoughts  of 
officiating  in  that  church  which  had  invested 
him  with  clerical  orders,  had  entered,  in  the 
capacity  of  tutor,  into  the  family  of  Hugh 
Douglas,  of  Long  Niddrie,  a  gentleman  in 
East  Lothian,  who  had  embraced  the  re- 
formed doctrine.  He  had  also  put  under  his 
instruction,  the  son  of  John  Cockburn,  of  Or- 
miston,  a  neighbouring  gentleman,  of  the  same 
persuasion.  These  young  men  were  instructed 
by  him  in  the  principles  of  religion,  as  well  as 
in  the  learned  languages.  And  he  so  con- 
ducted their  religious  instruction,  that  the 
family  and  neighbours  might  profit  by  the 
lessons  given  to  his  pupils;  for  at  stated  times 
he  expounded  to  them  a  chapter  in  the  Bible, 
and  catechised  them  publicly  in  a  chapel,  at 
Long  Niddrie;  the  memory  of  which  is  still 
preserved,  and  the  ruins  of  the  chapel  still 
visible,  which  to  this  day  is  called  John 
Knox^s  Kirk. 

In  the  year  1546,  a  conspiracy  having  been 
formed  against  the  life  of  that  cruel  and  deter- 


24  THE  LIFE  OF 

mined  persecutor,  Cardinal  Beatoun,  the  cas- 
tle of  St.  Andrews,  in  which  he  resided,  was 
seized  upon,  by  a  small  but  determined  band, 
a  part  of  whom  instigated  by  resentment  for 
private  injuries,  and  others,  by  a  desire  to  re- 
venge his  cruelties;  and  the  Cardinal  was  put 
to  death. 

The  death  of  Beatoun,  however,  did  not 
free  Knox  from  danger,  for  his  life  was  sought 
after  by  John  Hamilton,  who  was  nominated 
to  the  vacant  bishopric,  with  as  great  eager- 
ness as  by  his  predecessor.  He  was,  therefore, 
obliged  to  conceal  himself,  and  to  remove 
from  place  to  place,  to  provide  for  his  safety. 
Wearied  with  these  persecutions,  he  came  to 
the  resolution  to  leave  his  native  country; 
and  his  purpose  was  to  visit  Germany;  but 
the  fathers  of  his  pupils  were  very  reluctant 
to  part  with  such  a  tutor,  and  persuaded  him, 
with  their  sons,  to  take  refuge  in  the  castle  of 
St.  Andrews. 

The  enemies  of  Knox  have  taken  occasion 
from  this  circumstance,  to  charge  him  as  being 
among  the  conspirators  who  assassinated  the 
Cardinal,  which  is  contrary  to  all  testimony. 
Others  have  accused  him  of  joining  them  and 


JOHN    KNOX.  25 

giving  them  his  countenance,  after  the  deed 
was  perpetrated;  but  neither  has  this  any 
foundation.  The  only  thing  which  can  be 
plausibly  laid  to  his  charge,  in  relation  to  this 
matter  is,  that  in  his  writings  he  justified  the 
act.  He  does,  indeed,  chiefly  speak  of  it  as  a 
judgment  of  God,  and  an  act  of  Providence 
for  the  safety  of  his  servants;  but  it  is  true, 
that  he  vindicated  the  putting  this  cruel  per- 
secutor to  death,  as  a  righteous  and  praisewor- 
thy deed,  and  well  pleasing  to  God.  He 
held  the  opinion,  that  persons,  who  by  the 
commission  of  flagrant  crimes  had  forfeited 
their  lives,  according  to  the  law  of  God,  and 
the  just  laws  of  society,  such  as  notorious 
murderers,  and  tyrants,  might  warrantably  be 
put  to  death  by  private  individuals;  provided 
all  redress,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  justice 
was  rendered  impossible^  in  consequence  of 
the  ofiender  having  usurped  the  executive  au- 
thority, or  being  systematically  protected  by 
oppressive  rulers.  The  same  opinion  was 
defended  by  Buchanan,  in  his  treatise  '^  De 
jure  regni  apud  Scotos;^'  and  held  by  many 
eminent  men  of  that  age.  It  must  be  confess- 
ed, that  however  just  it  may  appear  to  be  in 


26  THE  LIFE  OF 

theory,  it  is  of  dangerous  application,  ex- 
tremely liable  to  abuse  by  the  factious,  fanati- 
cal, and  desperate,  as  a  pretext  for  the  most 
nefarious  deeds. 

Knox  entered  the  castle  of  St.  Andrews,  at 
the  time  of  Easter,  in  the  year  1547,  and 
conducted  the  education  of  his  pupils  in  his 
accustomed  manner;  expounding  to  them  the 
Scriptures  in  order,  and  catechising  them  in 
the  parish  church,  belonging  to  the  city.  A 
number  of  persons  attended  both  these  exer- 
cises. Among  those  who  had  taken  refuge  in 
the  castle,  were  John  Rough,  Sir  David  Lind- 
say, and  Henry  Balnaves.  These  persons 
were  so  much  pleased  with  Knox's  doctrine 
and  mode  of  instruction,  that  they  urged  him 
to  preach  publicly  to  the  people,  and  to  be- 
come colleague  to  Rough,  who  acted  as  chap- 
lain to  the  garrison.  •  But  he  resisted  all  their 
solicitations,  alleging  that  he  did  not  consider 
himself  as  having  a  call  to  this  employment. 
They,  however,  did  not  desist  from  their  pur- 
pose ;  but  consulted  the  brethren,  came  to  a 
resolution,  without  his  knowledge,  that  a  call 
should  be  publicly  given  to  him,  in  the  name 
of  the  whole,  to  become  one  of  their  minis- 


JOHN  KNOX.  27 

ters.  Accordingly,  on  a  day  fixed  for  the 
purpose,  Rough  preached  a  sermon  on  the 
election  of  ministers,  in  which  he  declared 
the  power  which  a  congregation,  however 
small,  had  over  any  one  in  whom  they  per- 
ceived gifts  suited  to  the  office;  and  how 
dangerous  it  was  for  any  one  to  reject  the  call 
of  those,  who  desired  instruction.  Sermon 
being  ended,  the  preacher  turned  towards 
Knox,  who  was  present,  and  addressed  him  in 
these  words;  "Brother,  you  will  not  be  of- 
fended, although  I  speak  unto  you,  that  which 
I  have  in  charge,  even  from  all  those  that  are 
here  present,  which  is  this  ;  In  the  name  of 
God,  and  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  the 
name  of  all  that  now  call  you  by  my  mouth, 
I  charge  you,  that  you  refuse  not  this  holy 
vocation,  but  as  you  tender  the  glory  of  God, 
the  increase  of  Christ's  kingdom,  and  the  edi- 
fication of  your  brethren,  and  the  comfort  of 
me,  whom  you  know,  well  enough,  to  be  op- 
pressed by  the  multitude  of  labours,  that  you 
take  upon  you  the  public  office  and  charge  of 
preaching,  even  as  you  look  to  avoid  God's 
heavy  displeasure,  and  desire  that  he  shall 
multiply  his  grace  unto  you.'^     Then  addres- 


28  THE  LIFE  OF 

sing  himself  to  the  congregation,  he  said, 
"  Was  not  this  your  charge  unto  me?  and  do 
ye  not  approve  this  vocation  ?  They  all  an- 
swered "  It  was,  and  we  approve  it."  Abashed 
and  overwhelmed  by  this  unexpected  and 
solemn  charge,  Knox  was  unable  to  speak,  but 
burst  into  tears,  retired  from  the  assembly, 
and  shut  himself  up  in  his  chamber.  "  His 
countenance  and  behaviour  from  that  day^ 
until  the  day  he  was  compelled  to  present 
himself  in  the  public  place  of  preaching,  did 
sufficiently  declare  the  grief  and  trouble  of  his 
heart ;  for  no  man  saw  any  sign  of  mirth  from 
him;  neither  had  he  pleasure  to  accompany 
any  man,  for  many  days  together." 

In  this  transaction  we  see  how  the  most 
eminent,  in  the  beginning  of  the  Reformation, 
felt  the  awful  responsibility  of  the  ministerial 
office,  and  with  what  difficulty  they  were  in- 
duced to  take  upon  them  that  sacred  office, 
which  they  had  long  desired,  and  for  which 
they  had  laboured  to  qualify  themselves.  The 
behaviour  of  Knox,  on  this  occasion,  reproves 
those  who  become  preachers  of  their  own  ac- 
cord: who  from  vague  and  enthusiastic  desires 
of  doing  good,  or  a  fond  conceit  of  their  own 


JOHN  KNOX.  29 

gifts,  trample  upon  good  order,  and  thrust 
themselves  into  a  sacred  employment,  without 
any  regular  call.  The  similarity  of  this  case 
to  that  of  John  Calvin,  at  Geneva  not  long  be- 
fore, must  strike  every  intelligent  reader. 

Knox's  distress  of  mind,  and  his  reluctance 
to  comply  with  the  call  which  he  now  receiv- 
ed, did  not  proceed  from  any  conviction  of  its 
invalidity,  by  reason  of  the  defect  of  certain 
formalities  which  had  been  usual  in  the  church, 
and  which  in  ordinary  cases  might  be  observ- 
ed with  propriety  in  the  installation  of  per- 
sons into  sacred  offices.  These,  as  far  as 
warranted  by  Scripture,  or  conducive  to  the 
preservation  of  decent  order,  he  did  not  con- 
temn ;  his  judgment  respecting  these  matters 
may  be  learned  from  the  e,arly  practice  of  the 
Scottish  Reformed  Church,  in  the  organization 
of  which  he  had  so  active  a  share.  In  com- 
mon with  all  the  original  reformers,  he  reject- 
ed the  necessity  of  episcopal  ordination,  as 
totally  unauthorized  by  the  laws  of  Christ: 
nor  did  he  regard  the  imposition  of  the  hands 
of  Presbyters,  as  a  rite  essential  to  the  validity 
of  orders;  or  of  necessary  observance  in  all 
circumstances   of  the   church.     The   papists, 

4 


30  THE  LIFE  OF 

indeed,  did  not  fail  to  declaim  on  this  topic, 
representing  Knox,  and  other  reformed  minis- 
ters, as  destitute  of  all  lawful  vocation.  In 
the  same  strain  did  many  hierarchical  writers 
of  the  English  Church,  afterwards  learn  to 
talk ;  not  scrupling,  by  their  extravagant  doc- 
trine of  the  absolute  necessity  of  ordination 
by  the  hands  of  a  bishop,  who  derived  his 
powers  by  uninterrupted  succession  from  the 
apostles,  to  invalidate  and  nullify  the  orders 
of  all  the  reformed  churches,  except  their 
own:  a  doctrine  which  has  been  revived  in 
the  present  enlightened  age,  and  unblushingly 
avowed  and  defended  with  the  greater  part  of 
its  absurd,  illiberal  and  horrid  consequences. 
Whether  Knox  paid  any  respect  whatever,  to 
his  early  ordination  in  the  popish  church,  can- 
not now  be  determined  ;  yet  there  can  be  lit- 
tle doubt  that  he  looked  upon  the  charge 
which  he  received  at  St.  Andrews,  as  princi- 
pally constituting  his  call  to  the  ministry. 
The  fathers  of  the  English  reformation  enter- 
tained no  such  narrow  views,  as  those  refer- 
red to,  as  held  by  some  of  their  successors. 
Knox's  call  to  the  ministry  was  never  ques- 
tioned, but  his  services  readily  accepted,  when 


JOHN  KNOX.  31 

he  afterwards  went  to  England.  Archbishop 
Cranmer,  in  the  reign  of  Edward  VI.  and  all 
the  bishops,  in  the  beginning  of  Elizabeth's 
reign,  corresponded  with,  and  cheerfully 
owned  the  foreign,  reformed  divines,  as  breth- 
ren and  fellow  labourers  in  the  ministry  of 
the  Gospel.  And  in  the  year  15S2,  arch- 
bishop Grindall,  by  a  formal  deed,  declared 
the  validity  of  the  orders  of  Mr.  John  Mor- 
rison, who  had  been  ordained  by  the  Synod  of 
Lothian ;  "  according  to  the  laudable  form 
and  rite  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Scotland.'' 
The  true  reason  of  Knox's  distress  of  mind 
on  receiving  this  call  to  undertake  the  work 
of  the  ministry,  was,  the  awful  importance  of 
the  sacred  office,  the  weight  of  the  care  of  im- 
mortal souls,  of  whom  he  knew  he  must  give 
an  account,  and  the  difficulty  of  the  duty  of 
declaring  "  the  whole  counsel  of  God,  and 
keeping  nothing  back,"  however  ungrateful  it 
might  be  to  his  hearers — of  preaching  "in 
season  and  out  of  season,"  and  maintaining 
that  exemplary  holiness  of  life,  and  fortitude 
and  patience  under  afflictions  and  persecutions, 
requisite  in  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  at  this 
period,  when  they  were  constantly  exposed  to 


32  THE  LIFE  OP 

imprisonment,  exile,  and  a  violent  death.  At 
length,  however,  satisfied  that  he  had  the  call 
of  God  to  engage  in  this  work,  he  composed 
his  mind  to  a  reliance  on  Him  who  had  en- 
gaged to  make  his  "  strength  perfect  in  the 
weakness"j]of  his  servants  ;  and  resolved,  with 
the  apostles  '^  not  to  count  his  life  dear,  that 
he  might  finish  with  joy  the  ministry  which 
he  received  of  the  Lord,  to  testify  the  Gospel 
of  the  grace  of  God."  Often  did  he  after- 
wards reflect  with  lively  emotion  on  this  very 
interesting  step  of  his  life,  and  never,  in  the 
midst  of  his  greatest  sufferings,  did  he  see 
reason  to  repent  of  the  choice  which  he  had 
so  deliberately  made. 

John  Rough,  though  sound  in  doctrine,  and 
of  exemplary  behaviour,  was  not  a  man  of 
much  learning,  the  want  of  which  he  now  sen- 
sibly felt;  for  some  persons  in  the  university 
and  abbey,  and  among  the  rest,  one  Annan, 
made  objections  to  the  doctrine  which  he 
preached,  and  endeavoured  to  vex  and  entan- 
gle him  with  their  sophisms  and  garbled  quo- 
tations from  the  fathers.  The  value  of  his  col- 
league was  now  also  felt,  for  he,  by  his  supe- 
rior skill  in  logic,  and  his  acquaintance  with 


JOHN  KNOX.  33 

the  writings  of  the  fathers,  was  able  to  detect 
Annan's  fallacies,  and  confute  his  popish  er- 
rors. 

One  day  at  a  public  disputation,  in  the  par- 
ish church,  in  the  presence  of  a  great  number 
of  people,  Annan  being  beat  from  all  his  defen- 
ces, had  recourse,  as  his  last  resort,  to  the 
infallibility  of  the  church,  which  having  con- 
demned the  tenets  of  the  Lutherans  as  hereti- 
cal, all  farther  disputation,  he  alleged,  was 
unnecessary.  Knox  replied,  that  it  was  first 
requisite  to  ascertain  the  true  church,  by  the 
marks  given  in  Scripture,  lest  they  should 
receive  as  their  spiritual  mother  a  harlot, 
instead  of  the  immaculate  spouse  of  Jesus 
Christ;  ^^  For,"  said  he,  "  as  for  your  Roman 
church,  as  it  is  now  corrupted,  wherein  stands 
the  hope  of  your  victory,  I  no  more  doubt 
that  it  is  the  synagogue  of  Satan,  and  the  head 
thereof  called  the  pope,  to  be  the  man  of  sin, 
of  whom  the  apostle  speaks,  than  I  doubt  that 
Jesus  Christ  suffered  by  the  procurement  of 
the  visible  church  at  Jerusalem.  Yea,  I  offer 
myself,  by  word  or  writing,  to  prove  the  Ro- 
man church  this  day,  farther  degenerate,  than 

even  the  church  of  the  Jews,  from  the  ordi- 

4* 


34  THE  LIFE  OP 

nances  given  by  Moses,  when  they  consented 
to  the  innocent  death  of  Jesus  Christ."  This 
was  a  bold  charge,  but  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple came  prepared  to  listen  to  the  proof.  They 
exclaimed,  that  if  this  were  true,  they  had 
been  miserably  deceived;  and  insisted,  as  they 
could  not  all  read  his  writings,  that  he  should 
ascend  the  pulpit  and  give  them  an  opportu- 
nity of  hearing  the  proof  of  what  he  had  so 
confidently  affirmed.  The  challenge  was  not 
retracted,  and  the  request  was  reasonable; 
therefore,  the  following  Sunday  was  fixed  on 
for  making  good  his  promise. 

On  the  day  appointed,  Knox  appeared  in 
the  pulpit  of  the  parish  church,  and  gave  out 
for  his  text,  Dan.  vii.  24,  25.  After  explain- 
ing the  vision  and  showing  that  the  four  king- 
doms of  Babylon,  Persia,  Greece,  and  Rome, 
were  emblematically  represented  by  the  four 
animals,  seen  in  vision  by  David;  he  pro- 
ceeded to  show,  that  out  of  the  ruins  of  the 
last  of  these  empires  arose  the  power  described 
in  the  text,  which  could  be  no  other  than  the 
degenerate  church  of  Rome.  He  compared 
the  parallel  passages  in  the  New  Testament, 
and  showed  that  the  king  mentioned  in  the 


JOHN  KNOX.  35 

text  was  the  person  called  the  man  of  sin,  the 
antichrist,  the  Babylonian  harlot;  and  that 
this  did  not  mean  any  single  person,  but  a 
multitude  or  body  under  a  wicked  head,  inclu- 
ding a  succession  of  persons  occupying  the 
same  station.  To  show  that  the  papal  power 
was  anti-christ,  he  described  it  under  the  three 
heads,  of  life,  doctrine,  and  laws.  The  lives 
of  the  popes  he  depicted  from  ecclesiastical 
history,  their  doctrine  he  contrasted  with  that 
of  the  New  Testament,  and  their  laws  with 
the  institutions  of  Christ.  He  cited  from  the 
Canon  law  the  blasphemous  titles  and  preroga- 
tives, ascribed  to  the  pope,  as  the  additional 
proof  that  he  was  described  in  the  text.  In 
conclusion,  he  invited  any,  who  might  think 
that  his  quotations  produced  from  Scripture, 
history,  or  the  writings  of  the  fathers  and  doc- 
tors of  the  church,  were  unfairly  made,  to 
come  to  him,  and  in  the  presence  of  witnesses 
he  would  give  them  satisfaction.  Among  his 
auditors  on  this  occasion,  were  John  Mair,  his 
old  preceptor,  the  members  of  the  university, 
the  sub-prior  of  the  abbey,  and  a  great  number 
of  canons  and  friars  of  different  orders. 

This  sermon,  delivered  with  a  good  degree 


36  THE  LIFE  OF 

of  that  fervid  eloquence  for  which  Knox  was 
so  distinguished,  made  a  great  noise,  and  exci- 
ted much  speculation  among  all  classes.  The 
former  preachers  of  reformed  doctrine,  not 
excepting  Wishart,  had  contented  themselves 
with  rejecting  some  of  the  grosser  errors  of 
the  established  religion  j  but  Knox  struck,  at 
once,  at  the  root  of  popery,  boldly  pronoun- 
cing the  pope  to  be  anti-christ,  and  the  whole 
system  erroneous  and  unscriptural. 

It  was  impossible  for  such  a  sermon  to 
escape  animadversion.  By  the  order  of  the 
Bishop  of  St.  Andrews,  Winram,  the  sub- 
prior,  summoned  Knox  to  appear  before  him; 
when  nine  articles  drawn  from  his  sermon 
were  exhibited.  Knox  knew  that  in  heart, 
Winram,  the  sub-prior,  was  favourable  to  the 
Reformation;  he  therefore  appealed  solemnly 
to  him  to  declare,  whether  any  thing  which  he 
had  said  was  contrary  to  the  Scriptures;  and 
if  he  thought  that  the  doctrine  preached  was 
true,  it  was  his  duty  to  give  it  t\}e  sanction  of 
his  authority.  Winram  answered  with  great 
caution,  saying,  that  he  did  not  come  there  as 
a  judge,  and  would  neither  approve  nor  con- 
demn; he  wished  for  a  free  conference,  and  if 


JOHN  KNOX.  37 

Knox  pleased, -would  reason  with  him  a  little. 
He  then  proceeded  to  state  some  objections  to 
one  of  the  propositions  maintained  by  Knox, 
but  soon  devolved  the  dispute  on  a  grey  head- 
ed friar  who  was  present;  who,  though  he 
took  it  up  with  great  confidence,  was  soon 
forced  to  yield  with  disgrace.  For  having 
rashly  engaged  to  prove  the  institution  of  the 
popish  ceremonies,  and  being  pushed  by  his 
antagonist  from  the  Gospels  and  Acts  to  the 
Epistles,  and  from  one  epistle  to  another;  he 
was  driven  at  last  to  affirm  "  That  the  apostles 
had  not  received  the  Holy  Ghost,  when  they 
wrote  the  epistles,  but  that  they  afterwards 
received  Him,  and  then  ordained  the  ceremo- 
nies of  the  church."  Here,  the  sub-prior  in- 
terposed and  said,  "  Father,  what  say  you  ? 
God  forbid  that  you  say  that\  for  then,  fare- 
well the  ground  of  our  faith.  The  friar, 
abashed  and  confounded,  attempted  to  correct 
his  error,  but  in  vain.  Knox  could  not  after- 
wards bring  him  up  to  the  argument  upon  any 
of  the  articles;  but  henceforth  he  resolved  all 
into  the  authority  of  the  church. 

Instructed  by  the  issue  of  this  convention, 
the  papists  avoided,  for  the  future,  all  dispu- 


38  THE  LIFE  OF 

tation,  which  they  found  tended  only  to  the 
injury  of  their  cause.  Had. the  castle  of  St. 
Andrews  been  in  their  power,  they  would 
soon  have  silenced  these  troublesome  preach- 
ers; but  as  matters  stood,  more  moderate  and 
crafty  measures  were  necessary.  The  plan 
which  they  adopted  was,  that  all  the  learned 
men  in  the  abbey  and  university  should  preach 
in  their  turn,  and  thus  Knox  and  Rough  would 
seldom  have  the  opportunity  of  addressing  the 
people  in  public;  but  they  made  it  a  rule,  not 
to  touch  on  any  of  the  points  in  dispute. 
Knox  said,  that  he  only  wished  that  they 
could  be  induced  to  be  as  industrious  in  their 
vocation  through  the  week — but  he  declared, 
that  he  would  rejoice  that  the  gospel  was 
preached,  and  that  no  opposition  was  given  in 
their  discourses  to  evangelical  truth. 

In  the  few  months  that  Knox  preached  at 
St.  Andrews,  a  great  number  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town,  besides  those  in  the  castle, 
were  induced  to  renounce  popery,  and  make 
profession  of  the  Protestant  faith,  by  partici- 
pating of  the  Lord's  Supper,  which  he  admin- 
istered to  them,  in  the  form  afterwards  prac- 
tised  in  the  Reformed  Church  of  Scotland. 


JOHN    KNOX.  39 

But  while  he  enjoyed  the  gratification  arising 
from  these  first  fruits  of  his  ministry,  he  was 
troubled  on  account  of  the  disorderly  and  li- 
centious conduct  of  some  of  the  soldiers  under 
his  charge.  From  the  time  that  he  was  cho- 
sen to  be  their  preacher  he  openly  rebuked 
these  disorders,  and  when  he  perceived  that 
his  admonitions  failed  of  putting  a  stop  to 
them,  he  did  not  conceal  his  apprehensions  of 
the  issue  of  the  enterprize  in  which  they  were 
engaged. 

In  the  end  of  June,  1547,  a  French  fleet, 
with  a  considerable  body  of  land  forces,  ap- 
peared before  St.  Andrews;  and  the  besieged, 
disappointed  in  aid  from  England,  capitulated 
on  honourable  terms.  All  that  were  in  the 
castle  were  to  be  transported  to  France,  and  if 
they  did  not  choose  to  enter  the  service  of  the 
French  king,  they  were  to  be  conveyed  to 
any  place  to  which  they  wished  to  go,  except 
to  Scotland.  Rough  had  left  the  castle  before 
it  was  taken ;  but  Knox,  although  he  foresaw 
that  it  could  not  long  hold  out  against  such  a 
besieging  force  by  sea,  and  land,  yet  would 
not  forsake  his  charge.  He  was,  accordingly, 
conveyed  with   the   rest   of  the  garrison  on 


40  THE  LIFE  OF 

board  of  the  French  fleets  which,  in  a  few 
days,  set  sail  for  France;  and  going  up  the 
Seine,  anchored  at  Rouen.  At  the  request  of 
the  pope  and  the  Scotch  clergy,  the  capitula- 
tion was  violated,  and  they  were  all  detained 
prisoners  of  war.  The  principal  gentlemen 
were  incarcerated  at  Rouen,  Cherburg,  Brest, 
and  Mont  St.  Michel;  but  Knox,  with  some 
others,  was  confined  on  board  the  galleys, 
bound  with  chains,  and  treated  with  all  the 
indignity  usually  offered  to  heretics,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  ordinary  rigors  of  captivity. 

From  Rouen,  they  sailed  to  Nantes,  and 
lay  upon  the  Noire  during  the  following  win- 
ter. Solicitations,  threatenings,  and  violence, 
were  all  employed  to  make  the  prisoners  re- 
cant their  religion,  and  countenance  the  popish 
worship.  But  so  great  was  their  abhorrence 
of  idolatry,  that  not  an  individual  could  be  in- 
duced to  symbolize  with  idolatrous  rites,  in 
the  smallest  degree.  While  they  lay  in  the 
Noire,  they  were  often  brought  out  on  deck 
to  witness  the  celebration  of  mass  on  shore, 
and  were  required  to  give  the  usual  signs  of 
reverence;  but  this  they  uniformly  refused, 
and  always  covered  their  heads.     One  day,  a 


JOHN    KNOX.  41 

fine  image  of  the  Virgin  Mary  was  brought 
into  one  of  the  galleys,  and  presented  to  a 
Scottish  prisoner,  to  kiss.  He  desired  the 
bearer  to  desist,  for  such  images  were  accur- 
sed; and  he  would  not  touch  it.  The  officer 
roughly  declared  that  he  should,  and  put  it  to 
his  face,  and  thrust  it  into  his  hands.  Upon 
this,  he  took  hold  of  the  image,  and  watching 
his  opportunity,  threw  it  into  the  river,  say- 
ing, "  Lat  our  lady  now  save  hirself;  she  is 
lycht  anoughe,  lat  Mr  leirne  to  swyme?^ 
After  this,  they  were  no  more  troubled  in  that 
way. 

In  the  summer  of  1548,  the  galleys  returned 
to  the  coast  of  Scotland,  and  continued  for 
some  time,  watching  for  English  vessels. 
Knox's  health  was  now  greatly  impaired  by 
the  severity  of  his  confinement;  and  he  was 
seized  with  a  fever,  so  that  for  a  while,  his  life 
was  despaired  of:  but  even  in  this  state,  his 
fortitude  remained  unsubdued,  and  he  com- 
forted his  fellow  prisoners  with  the  hopes  of 
release.  His  uniform  answer,  when  they  in- 
quired if  he  thought  they  would  ever  gain 
their  liberty,  was,  "  God  will  deliver  us,  even 

5 


42  THE    LIFE  OF 

in  this  life  to  his  glory."     While  on  the  coast 
of  Dundee,  Mr.   James  Balfour  asked  him  if 
he  knew  the  land?     Though  very  sick  at  the 
time,  yet  he  replied,  "  Yes,  I  know  it  well, 
for  I  see  the  steeple  of  that  place  where  God 
first  opened  my  mouth  in  public  to  his  glory; 
and  I  am  fully  persuaded,  how  weak  soever  I 
now  appear,  that  I  shall  not  depart  this  life, 
till   that   my  tongue   shall  glorify  his   godly 
name  in  the  same  place."     This  striking  re- 
ply. Sir  James  repeated  before  many  witness- 
es, long   before  Knox  returned   to  Scotland, 
and  when  there  was  very  little  prospect  of  his 
words  ever  being  verified.    He  was  not,  how- 
ever, at  all  times  free  from  painful  conflicts, 
and  depression  of  mind.     But  his  constant  re- 
sort was  to  prayer,  the  never  failing  refuge  of 
the  afflicted  and  oppressed,  by  which  he  was 
relieved  from  all  his  fears,  and  reposing  on 
the  promises  and  providence  of  God  whom  he 
served,  attained  "  the  confidence  and  rejoicing 
of  hope."    When  free  from  fever,  he  relieved 
the  tedium  of  his  captivity  in   composing  a 
confession  of  his  faith,  being  the  substance  of 
what  he  had  preached  at  St.  Andrews,  with  a 


JOHN    KNOX.  43 

particular  account  of  the  dispute  in  which  he 
was  engaged  at  St.  Leonard's  Yards.  This 
paper  he  found  means  to  convey  to  his  friends 
in  Scotland,  which  he  accompanied  with  an 
earnest  exhortation  to  them  to  be  steadfast  in 
their  adherence  to  the  truth. 

At  length,  Knox,  after  enduring  a  severe 
imprisonment  of  nineteen  months,  obtained 
his  liberty.  This  occurred  in  February  1549; 
but  by  what  means  his  deliverance  was  effect- 
ed cannot  now  be  certainly  ascertained.  Some 
say,  that  the  galley  in  which  he  was  confined 
was  taken  in  the  channel,  by  the  English. 
According  to  another  account,  he  was  libera- 
ted by  the  king  of  France;  because,  on  exami- 
nation it  appeared,  that  he  was  not  concerned 
in  the  murder  of  cardinal  Beatoun;  nor  acces- 
sory to  other  crimes  committed  by  those  who 
held  the  castle  of  St.  Andrews.  Others,  again, 
say,  that  his  friends  purchased  his  liberty,  in- 
duced by  the  hopes  which  they  cherished  of 
great  things  to  be  accomplished  by  him.  It 
is  not  improbable,  however,  that  he  owed  his 
liberty  to  the  fact,  that  the  French  court  had 
now  accomplished  their  purpose,  in  regard  to 
Scotland,  having  got  the   young  queen   into 


44  THE  LIFE  OF 

their  possession,  and  having  married  her  to 
the  Dauphin,  so  that  they  now  felt  less  inclin- 
ed to  revenge  the  quarrels  of  the  Scottish 
clergy. 


PERIOD    III. 

FROM  HIS  RELEASE  FROM  THE  FRENCH  GALLEYS,  1549,  TO  HIS 
DEPARTURE  FROM  ENGLAND,  1554. 

Knox,  as  soon  as  he  was  at  liberty,  resorted  to 
England,  where  the  need  of  faithful,  evangeli- 
cal preachers  was  very  great;  and  as  his  repu- 
tation as  a  powerful  preacher  was  not  unknown 
in  that  kingdom,  he  was  immediately  employ- 
ed in  the  work  in  which  above  all  others  he 
delighted.  As  it  was  found  impracticable  to 
supply  every  parish  with  a  capable  and  faith- 
ful pastor,  Cranmer  adopted  the  plan  of  send- 
ing able  preachers  to  itinerate  in  the  counties 
which  were  most  destitute.  Knox  was  there- 
fore sent  down  from  London  to  Berwick,  a 
situation  the  more  acceptable  to  him,  because 
it  aflforded  him,  from  its  proximity  to  his  na- 
tive land,  the  opportunity  of  ascertaining  the 


JOHN  KNOX.  45 

state  of  religion  there,  and  to  correspond  with 
his  friends,  and  impart  to  them  his  advice. 
In  the  execution  of  his  oflSce  he  spared  neither 
time  nor  bodily  strength,  and  so  fulfilled  his 
duty,  as  to  give  great  satisfaction  to  those  who 
employed  him.  Regarding  the  worship  of 
the  popish  church  as  grossly  idolatrous,  and 
its  doctrine  as  damnable,  he  attacked  both 
with  the  utmost  fervour,  and  exerted  himself 
to  withdraw  his  hearers  from  them,  with  as 
much  eagerness  as  he  would  to  save  their 
lives  from  a  devouring  fire  or  flood.  Nor 
were  his  labours  fruitless:  during  the  two 
years  that  he  continued  in  Berwick,  num- 
bers were,  by  his  ministry,  converted  from 
error  and  ignorance,  and  a  general  reforma- 
tion of  manners  became  visible  among  the 
soldiers  of  the  garrison,  who  had  before  been 
noted  for  turbulence  and  licentiousness. 

Berwick  was  situated  within  the  diocese  of 
Tonstal,  a  time-serving  prelate,  who,  though 
he  concurred  in  the  first  steps  taken  in  the 
English  reformation ;  yet,  afterwards,  set  him- 
self against  all  further  change.  Knox's  preach- 
ing and  success  could  not  but  be  very  disa- 
greeable to   this  man,  and   his  clergy,   who 

5* 


46  THE  LIFE  OF 

were  all  bi  go  tied  papists:  but  as  he  had  been 
sent  there  by  Cranmer  and  the  council,  they 
dared  not  reject  him,  unless  some  ground  of 
accusation  could  be  found  in  the  doctrines 
which  he  preached.  To  men  predisposed  to 
censure  the  pure  doctrines  of  the  reformation, 
the  bold  denunciations  of  popish  error  and 
superstition  by  Knox,  soon  furnished  occasion 
for  an  accusation.  A  charge  was  exhibited 
against  him,  before  the  bishop,  for  teaching 
"  that  the  sacrifice  of  the  mass  was  idolatrous;" 
and  a  day  was  assigned  him  to  offer  reasons 
in  defence  of  this  opinion.  Accordingly,  on 
on  the  4th  of  April,  1550,  a  great  assembly 
was  convened  at  Newcastle,  among  whom 
were  the  members  of  the  council  residing  in 
the  north,  the  bishop  of  Durham,  and  the 
learned  men  of  his  cathedral.  Knox  delivered 
an  ample  defence  of  the  doctrine  against  which 
complaints  had  been  made.  After  an  appro- 
priate exordium,  in  which  he  endeavoured  to 
obviate  their  prejudices,  he  proceeded  to  his 
vindication.  As  his  audience  was  composed 
of  the  unlearned  as  well  as  the  learned,  he 
endeavoured  to  accommodate  his  discourse  to 
them  also.     His  arguments  were  proposed  in 


JOHN  KNOX.  47 

the  syllogistic  form,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  age,  but  he  illustrated  them  with  a 
plainness,  level  to  the  meanest  capacity.  His 
defence  was  written,  and  the  manuscript  is  still 
preserved,  and  the  substance  of  it  is  given  by 
Dr.  McCrie,  in  the  notes  appended  to  his  Life 
of  Knox.  The  effect  of  this  defence  was  to  ex- 
tend the  fame  of  Knox  through  the  north  of 
England,  while  it  completely  silenced  the  bish- 
op and  his  suffragans.  He  continued  to  preach 
at  Berwick,  through  the  remainder  of  the  year: 
but  in  the  following  year,  he  had  the  sphere  of 
his  usefulness  greatly  enlarged,  by  being  re- 
manded to  Newcastle.  In  December,  1551, 
the  Privy  Council  conferred  on  him  a  special 
mark  of  their  favour,  by  appointing  him  one 
of  king  Edward's  chaplains,  in  ordinary. 

In  the  course  of  the  year,  he  was  consulted 
respecting  the  liturgy,  which  was  undergoing 
a  review,  and  on  this  occasion,  probably  visit- 
ed London.  Although  the  persons  who  had 
the  chief  direction  of  ecclesiastical  affairs,  did 
not  think  it  expedient  to  introduce  that  tho- 
rough reform  which  he  wished ;  yet  he  ob- 
tained some  important  alterations  to  be  made, 
especially    in    the    communion    service,    by 


48  THE  LIFE  OF 

which  the  notion  of  the  corporeal  presence  of 
Christ  in  the  sacrament,  was  excluded,  and 
the  countenance  given  to  the  adoration  of  the 
elements  by  the  custom  of  kneeling,  was  re- 
moved. Knox,  in  his  ^'  Admonition  to  the 
Professors  of  the  Truth  in  England,"  speaks 
of  these  alterations  in  the  book  of  common 
prayer,  with  much  satisfaction.  And  Dr. 
Weston,  in  his  dispute  with  Latimer  in  Queen 
Mary's  time,  complains  of  the  influence  which 
he  had  in  procuring  these  alterations,  saying, 
"  A  runnagate  Scot  did  take  away  the  adora- 
tion or  worshipping  of  Christ,  in  the  sacra- 
ment, by  whose  procurement,  that  heresy  was 
put  into  the  last  communion  book ;  so  much 
prevailed  that  one  man's  authority  at  that 
time."  In  the  following  year,  he  was  em- 
ployed in  revising  the  articles  of  religion 
previous  to  their  ratification  by  parliament. 
While  a  resident  at  Berwick,  Knox  became 
acquainted  with  Miss  Marjory  Bowes,  a  young 
lady  of  an  honourable  family,  to  whom  he 
paid  his  addresses,  and  meeting  with  a  favour- 
able reception,  he  entered  into  a  solemn  en- 
gagement to  marry  her;  but  owing  to  some 
obstruction,  the  connexion  was  not  now  form- 


JOHN  KNOX.  49 

ed;  but  henceforth,  he  considered  himself  as 
sacredly  bound,  and  always  addressed  Mrs. 
Bowes,  in  his  letters  by  the  name  of  mother. 

Knox  was  eager  to  redeem  time,  and  inde- 
fatigable in  his  labours  while  stationed  in  the 
North  of  England;  for  he  seems  to  have  had 
a  presage,  that  this  golden  opportunity  of  use- 
fulness would  not  be  of  long  duration.  In 
addition  to  his  ordinary  services  on  the  Sab- 
bath, he  preached  regularly  on  week  days, 
and  frequently  on  every  day  of  the  week. 
Besides  the  portion  of  time  allotted  to  study, 
he  was  often  employed  in  conversing  with 
people  who  applied  to  him  for  advice  on  reli- 
gious subjects.  The  Council  were  so  sensible 
of  the  value  of  his  services,  that  they  wrote 
letters  to  the  governors  and  principal  inhabi- 
tants of  the  places  where  he  preached,  recom- 
mending him  to  their  notice  and  protection; 
and  secured  him  the  regular  payment  of  his 
salary,  until  such  time  as  he  should  be  provi- 
ded with  a  benefice. 

But  far  different  was  the  feeling  towards 
him,  of  the  majority  of  the  people  in  the  coun- 
try where  he  laboured.  They  were  generally 
superstitious    papists,   who    submitted   impa- 


50  THE  LIFE  OF 

tiently  to  the  Protestant  government  of  the 
country,  and  longed  for  the  restoration  of  their 
ancient  religion.  And  when  Somerset,  the 
protector  was  overthrown,  their  feelings  of 
satisfaction  could  not  be  concealed.  These 
things  excited  the  ardent  spirit  of  Knox,  and 
about  Christmas,  1552,  he  gave  vent  to  his 
feelings,  and  lamenting  the  obstinacy  of  the 
papists,  asserted,  "  that  such  were  enemies  to 
the  Gospel  then  preached  in  England,  were 
secret  traitors  to  the  crown  and  common- 
wealth, and  cared  not  who  should  reign  over 
them,  provided  they  got  their  idolatry  erected 
again.  ^'  This  freedom  of  speech  was  imme- 
diately laid  hold  on  by  his  enemies,  and  trans- 
mitted with  many  aggravations,  to  some  great 
men  about  the  court,  who  preferred  a  charge 
against  him  before  the  privy  council  for  high 
offences.  In  taking  this  step  they  were  not  a 
little  encouraged  by  the  knowledge  of  the  sen- 
timents of  the  Duke  of  Northumberland,  who 
had  lately  come  down  as  Warden  General  of 
the  northern  marches.  This  ambitious  and 
unprincipled  nobleman  had  made  use  of  the 
Reformation,  merely  as  a  stepping  stone  to  the 
highest  preferments  in  the  state,  which  he  had 


JOHN  KNOX.  51 

recently  secured  by  the  fall  of  the  Duke  of 
Somerset,  the  protector  of  the  kingdom.  Knox 
had  offended  him  by  lamenting  the  fall  of  So- 
merset, as  detrimental  to  the  Reformation;  nor 
could  his  freedom,  in  reproving  from  the  pul- 
pit, the  vices  of  great  and  small,  be  otherwise 
than  offensive  to  a  man  of  Northumberland's 
character.  He  was  solicitous,  therefore,  to 
have  Knox  removed  from  those  parts,  and  had 
applied  to  the  council  for  this  purpose,  before 
the  occurrence  just  mentioned,  alleging  as  a 
reason,  the  great  influx  of  Scotchmen  into  the 
country. 

In  consequence  of  the  charges  brought 
against  him,  Knox  was  now  cited  to  repair 
immediately  to  London,  to  answer  for  his 
conduct.  In  this  emergency  his  courage  did 
not  forsake  him,  as  appears  by  a  letter  to  his 
sister  immediately  after  receiving  the  sum- 
mons. Upon  reaching  London,  he  found  that 
his  enemies  had  been  uncommonly  industrious 
in  exciting  prejudices  against  him,  by  trans- 
mitting the  most  false  and  calumnious  infor- 
mation. But  the  council,  after  hearing  his 
defence,  were  convinced  of  the  malice  of  the 
accusation,    and    honourably   acquitted    him. 


52  THE  LIFE  OF 

While  in  London  he  preached  before  the 
court,  and  gave  great  satisfaction,  particularly 
to  the  young  King,  who  contracted  a  liking  to 
him,  and  was  very  desirous  to  have  him  pro- 
moted in  the  church.  It  was  now  determined 
by  the  council,  that  Knox,  during  the  year 
1553,  should  preach  in  London  and  the  south- 
ern counties;  but  he  was  permitted  to  return 
to  Newcastle  for  a  short  time,  to  settle  his 
affairs,  or  as  a  public  testimony  of  his  inno- 
cence. 

His  health  had  been  greatly  impaired  by  his 
long  confinement  in  the  galleys,  and  also  by  his 
incessant  labours  in  the  north  of  England;  so 
that  in  the  year  1553,  he  was  much  afflicted 
with  the  gravel,  which  was  accompanied  by 
severe  pains  in  t-he  head  and  stomach.  But 
although  his  bodily  sufferings  were  great,  his 
fortitude  never  failed,  as  appears  by  his  letters, 
written  while  labouring  under  the  severe  pain 
of  disease. 

After  his  return  from  Newcastle  to  London, 
the  council  requested  the  archbishop  to  present 
him  to  the  living  of  All-Hallows,  in  that  city. 
This  was  done  at  the  suggestion  of  the  young 
King,    who,   as    we   have   seen,   entertained 


JOHN  KNOX.  53 

great  favour  towards  Knox.  Against  this 
measure,  the  Duke  of  Northumberland  exerted 
all  his  influence;  but  it  was  unnecessary,  for 
when  the  offer  was  made  to  Knox,  he  declined 
it,  and  assigned  as  a  reason,  that  in  the  present 
state  of  the  English  Church,  he  could  not  ac- 
cept a  fixed  charge.  This  answer  gave  no 
small  offence,  so  that  in  consequence  of  it,  he 
was  again  called  before  the  Privy  Council. 
At  this  meeting  the  archbishop  and  several  of 
the  bishops  were  present,  as  well  as  the  Lord 
Chancellor  and  other  noblemen,  who  were 
members  of  this  body.  He  was  asked  why  he 
had  refused  the  benefice  provided  for  him  in 
London?  He  answered,  that  he  was  fully 
satisfied,  that  he  could  be  more  useful  to  the 
Church  in  another  situation.  Being  further 
interrogated,  whether  it  was  his  opinion,  that 
no  person  could  lawfully  serve  in  ecclesiastical 
ministrations,  according  to  the  present  laws  of 
the  realm  ?  He  frankly  replied,  "  that  there 
were  many  things  which  needed  reformation, 
without  which,  ministers  could  not,  in  his 
opinion,  discharge  their  ofiice  conscientiously 
in  the  sight  of  God;  for  according  to  the  ex- 
isting laws,  no  minister  had  power  to  prevent 

6 


54  THE  LIFE  OF 

the  unworthy  from  partaking  of  the  sacra-, 
ments,  which  was  a  chief  point  of  his  office." 
He  was  asked,  if  kneeling  at  the  Lord's  table 
was  not  indifferent?  HercDlied,  "that  Christ's 
action  was  most  perfect,  and  in  it  no  such  pos- 
ture was  used  J  that  it  was  most  safe  to  follow 
his  example;  and  that  kneeling  was  an  addi- 
tion and  invention  of  men."  On  this  point 
one  of  the  council  entered  into  a  long  dispute 
with  him;  and  after  long  reasoning,  he  was 
informed  that  he  had  not  been  sent  for  with 
any  bad  design;  but  they  were  sorry  to  under- 
stand that  he  was  of  a  contrary  judgment  to 
the  common  order.  He  said,  that  he  was 
sorry  that  the  common  order  was  contrary  to 
Christ's  institution.  They  dismissed  him  with 
soft  speeches,  advising  him  to  endeavour  to 
bring  his  mind  to  communicate  according  to 
the  established  rites. 

If  honours  and  emoluments  could  have  influ- 
enced the  mind  of  our  conscientious  reformer, 
he  would  have  conformed  to  the  rites  and 
ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  England;  for  at 
the  special  request  of  Edward  VI.,  and  with 
the  concurrence  of  the  council,  he  received  the 
offer  of  a  bishopric;  but  the  same  reasons  pre- 


JOHN  KNOX.  55 

vented  him  from  accepting  this  offer,  which 
had  influenced  him  to  decline  the  living  of 
All-Hallows.  The  fact  is  attested  by  Beza, 
who  adds,  that  his  refusal  was  accompanied 
with  a  censure  of  the  Episcopal  office,  as  des- 
titute of  divine  authority,  and  not  exercised 
in  England  according  to  the  ecclesiastical  ca- 
nons. Knox  himself,  also  speaks  of  the  high 
promotions  offered  to  him  by  Edward;  and  in 
a  later  period  of  his  life  we  find  him  expressly 
asserting  that  he  had  refused  a  bishopric. 

Here,  it  will  not  be  irrelevant  to  observe, 
that  the  reformation  in  England,  was  con- 
ducted on  very  different  principles  from  that 
of  Scotland,  and  most  of  the  reformed  churches 
on  the  continent.  The  supremacy  before  pos- 
sessed by  the  pope,  was  transferred  to  the  king 
the  hierarchy  being  subjected  to  the  civil 
power  was  suffered  to  remain,  together  with 
jnany  of  the  forms  of  the  ancient  worship, 
after  removing  the  grosser  superstitions;  but 
in  Scotland  all  these  were  discarded  as  desti- 
tute of  divine  authority,  unprofitable,  burden- 
some, or  savouring  of  popery;  and  the  wor- 
ship and  government  of  the  church  were  re- 
duced to  the  primitive  standard  of  Scriptural 


56  THE  LIFE  OF 

simplicity.  The  influence  of  Knox,  in  mo- 
delling and  regulating  ecclesiastical  affairs  in 
Scotland,  is  universally  admitted;  but  it  has 
been  alleged,  that  while  he  officiated  in  the 
English  church,  he  was  entirely  pleased  with 
its  order  and  institutions,  and  that  his  preju- 
dice against  it  was  imbibed  during  his  resi- 
dence at  Geneva.  This  statement  is  inaccu- 
rate. It  is  true,  his  objections  to  the  English 
liturgy  were  increased  and  strengthened  by 
his  residence  on  the  continent;  but  it  is  cer- 
tain, that  they  existed  before  that  time.  His 
judgment  respecting  ecclesiastical  government 
and  discipline,  were  nurtured  during  that  pe- 
riod, but  his  radical  sentiments  on  these  heads, 
were  formed  long  before  he  ever  saw  Calvin, 
or  had  anv  intercourse  with  foreign  reformers. 
As  early  as  the  year  1547,  Knox  taught  at 
St.  Andrew's,  that  no  mortal  man  could  be  the 
head  of  the  church,  and  that  there  were  no 
true  bishops,  but  such  as  preached  personally 
without  a  substitute;  that  in  religion,  men  are 
bound  to  regulate  themselves  by  divine  laws; 
and  that  the  sacrament  ought  to  be  adminis- 
tered exactly  according  to  the  institution  and 
example  of  Christ.     And  in  a  solemn  disputa- 


JOHN  KNOX.  57 

tlon  in  that  place,  of  which  an  account  has 
been  given,  he  maintained  that  the  church  has 
no  authority  to  devise  ceremonies  and  rites. 
The  same  position  he  also  defended  at  New- 
castle in  1550,  and  in  his  appearance  before 
the  council  in  London.  It  was  impossible 
that  the  English  Church  in  any  of  the  shapes 
which  it  assumed,  could  stand  the  test  of  these 
principles.  The  ecclesiastical  supremacy,  the 
various  orders  and  dependencies  of  the  hier- 
archy, crossing  in  baptism,  and  kneeling  in  the 
eucharist,  with  other  ceremonies;  the  theatri- 
cal dress,  the  mimical  gestures,  the  vain  repe- 
titions used  in  religious  service,  were  all  cash- 
iered and  repudiated  by  the  cardinal  principle 
to  which  he  adhered,  that  in  the  Church  of 
Christ,  and  especially  in  the  acts  of  worship, 
every  thing  ought  to  be  arranged  and  con- 
ducted, not  by  the  pleasure  and  appointment 
of  men,  but  by  the  dictates  of  inspired  wisdom 
and  authority.  Yet  he  rejoiced  in  the  pro- 
gress of  the  reformation  in  England,  and  espe- 
cially in  the  liberty  which  was  given  to  preach 
the  pure  word  of  God  throughout  that  exten- 
sive realm;  that  idolatry  and  gross  supersti- 
tion were  suppressed,  and  that  the  rulers  were 

6* 


58  THE  LIFE  OP 

disposed  to  support  the  reformation  which  had 
been  commenced,  and  even  to  carry  it  further 
than  had  been  done.  And  on  account  of  the 
extreme  paucity  of  evangelical  preachers,  when 
the  harvest  was  so  extensive,  he  willingly  la- 
boured under  the  direction  of  the  council,  and 
for  the  sake  of  assisting  the  men  who  were 
striving  to  suppress  popery  and  to  introduce 
the  Reformation,  he  acquiesced  in  the  authority 
exercised  by  the  bishops,  in  the  places  where 
he  was  appointed  to  preach.  But  he  never 
could  be  induced  to  contradict  or  conceal  his 
decided  sentiments;  and  he  cautiously  avoided 
coming  under  any  engagements,  by  which  he 
would  have  approved  what  he  deemed  unlaw- 
ful, or  injurious  to  the  interests  of  religion. 
Upon  these  principles  he  never  submitted  to 
the  unlimited  use  of  the  liturgy  during  his  re- 
sidence in  England;  declined  to  accept  of  a 
valuable  living  in  London,  and  finally  refused 
the  offer  of  a  bishopric.  Among  other  things 
which  he  censured  in  the  English  ecclesiasti- 
cal establishment,  was  the  continuing  to  em- 
ploy so  many  ignorant  and  incompetent  priests, 
who  had  been  accustomed  to  nothing  but  say- 
ing mass  and  singing  the  litany;  the  general 


JOHN  KNOX.  59 

substitution  of  the  reading  of  the  homilies,  the 
mumbling  of  prayers,  or  the  chaunting  of 
matins,  and  even-song  in  the  place  of  preach- 
ing. He  also  objected  to  the  formal  celebra- 
tion of  the  sacraments,  unaccompanied  with 
instructions  to  the  people;  the  scandalous  pre- 
valence of  pluralities,  and  the  total  want  of 
ecclesiastical  discipline.  He  was  of  opinion, 
that  the  clergy  ought  not  to  be  entangled  and 
diverted  from  the  duties  of  their  office  by 
secular  employments,  and  thought  that  the 
bishops  ought  to  lay  aside  their  civil  titles  and 
dignities;  that  the  bishoprics  should  be  divi- 
ded, so  that  in  every  city  or  large  town  there 
might  be  placed  a  godly  and  learned  man, 
with  others  joined  with  him  for  the  manage- 
ment of  ecclesiastical  affairs;  and  that  schools 
for  the  education  of  youth  should  be  univer- 
sally erected  through  the  nation. 

Nor  did  the  principal  persons,  who  were 
active  in  effecting  the  English  reformation, 
differ  widely  from  Knox  in  these  sentiments, 
although  they  might  not  have  the  same  con- 
viction of  their  importance,  and  the  expe- 
diency of  reducing  them  to  practice.  It 
would  be  a  great  mistake  to  suppose  that  they 


60  THE  LIFE  OP 

were  men  of  the  same  principles  and  temper 
with  many  of  their  successors:  or  that  they 
were  satisfied  with  the  extent  to  which  they 
had  carried  the  reformation  of  the  English 
Church,  or  that  they  regarded  her  as  a  paragon 
and  perfect  pattern  to  other  churches.  They 
were  strangers  to  those  extravagant  and  illi- 
beral notions  which  were  afterwards  adopted 
by  the  fond  admirers  of  the  hierarchy  and 
liturgy.  They  would  have  laughed  at  the 
man  who  should  have  said,  the  ceremonies 
constituted  "  the  beauties  of  holiness,'^  or  that 
the  imposition  of  the  hands  of  a  bishop  was 
essential  to  the  validity  of  ordination.  They 
would  not  have  owned  that  man  as  a  Protes- 
tant, who  should  have  ventured  to  insinuate, 
that  where  this  was  wanting  there  was  no 
Christian  ministry,  no  ordinances,  no  church, 
and  perhaps  no  salvation.  Many  things  their 
successors  have  applauded,  they  only  tolera- 
ted; and  they  would  have  rejoiced  if  the  cir- 
cumstances of  their  times  would  have  per- 
mitted them  to  introduce  alterations,  which 
have  since  been  cried  down  as  puritanical 
innovations.  There  is  sufficient  evidence  to 
authorize  the  assertion,  that  if  the  first  English 


JOHN  KNOX.  61 

reformers  had  been  left  to  their  own  choice, 
they  would  have  brought  the  government  and 
worship  of  the  Church  of  England  nearly  to 
the  pattern  of  the  other  reformed  churches. 
Such,  in  particular,  was  the  earnest  wish  of 
Edward  VI.,  a  prince,  who  besides  his  other 
rare  qualities^  had  an  unfeigned  reverence  for 
the  word  of  God,  and  a  disposition  to  comply 
with  its  prescriptions,  in  preference  to  custom 
and  established  usages;  who  uniformly  shov/ed 
himself  inclined  to  give  relief  to  his  conscien- 
tious subjects,  and  sincerely  bent  on  promoting 
the  union  of  all  the  friends  of  the  reformed 
religion  at  home  and  abroad.  Had  his  life 
been  spared,  there  is  every  reason  to  think 
that  he  would  have  accomplished  the  rectifica- 
tion of  the  evils  in  the  English  Church,  which 
the  most  steady  and  enlightened  Protestants 
have  lamented. 

During  the  time  that  Knox  was  in  London, 
he  had  full  opportunity  of  observing  the  state 
of  the  court;  and  the  observations  which  he 
made,  filled  his  mind  with  the  most  anxious 
forebodings.  Of  the  piety  and  sincerity  of 
the  young  King,  he  entertained  not  the  small- 
est doubt.     Personal  acquaintance  heightened 


62  THE  LIFE  OF 

the  idea  which  he  had  formed  of  his  character 
from  report,  and  enabled  him  to  add  his  testi- 
mony to  the  tribute  of  praise,  which  all  who 
knew  the  prince  have  so  cheerfully  paid  to 
his  uncommon  endowments  and  virtues.  But 
the  principal  courtiers,  by  whom  he  was  at 
that  time  surrounded,  were  persons  of  a  very 
different  description  ;  and  gave  proofs,  too 
unequivocal  to  be  mistaken,  of  indifference  to 
all  religion,  and  readiness  to  fall  in  with  and 
forward  the  re-establishment  of  the  ancient 
superstition,  whenever  a  change  of  rulers 
might  render  such  a  course  expedient.  The 
royal  chaplains,  however,  were  men  of  a  very 
different  stamp  from  those  who  have  usually 
occupied  that  office,  in  the  courts  of  princes. 
They  were  no  time-serving,  supple,  smooth- 
tongued parasites.  They  were  not  afraid  of 
wounding  the  delicate  ears  of  their  royal  and 
noble  auditors,  by  denouncing  the  vices  which 
they  committed,  and  the  judgments  of  hea- 
ven to  which  they  exposed  themselves.  The 
freedom  used  by  the  venerable  Latimer,  is 
well  known  from  his  printed^sermons,  which, 
for  their  humility,  honesty,  artless  simplicity, 
native  humour,  and  genuine  pictures  of   the 


JOHN    KNOX.  63 

manners  of  the  age,  continue  still  to  be  read 
with  interest. 

Grindal,  Lever,  and  Bradford,  who  were 
superior  to  him  in  learning,  evinced  the  same 
fidelity  and  courage.  They  censured  the  am- 
bition, avarice,  luxury,  oppression,  and  irreli- 
gion,  which  reigned  in  the  court.  As  long  as 
their  sovereign  was  able  to  give  personal 
attendance  on  their  sermons,  the  preachers 
were  treated  with  exterior  decency,  but  after 
he  was  confined  to  his  chamber,  the  resentment 
of  the  courtiers  vented  itself  openly,  in  the 
most  contumelious  speeches,  and'  insolent  be- 
haviour. From  the  character  of  Knox,  no  one 
can  doubt,  that  he  was  not  behind  his  brethren 
in  the  boldness  of  his  discourses,  and  the 
sharpness  of  his  rebukes.  Indeed,  we  have 
convincing  evidence  of  it  in  the  last  sermon 
which  he  preached  in  the  presence  of  the 
court. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1553,  that  event  occurred, 
which  the  pious  had  for  some  time  feared,  and 
which,  for  a  time,  seemed  to  extinguish  the 
lamp  of  truth  in  England.  On  that  day, 
Edward  the  VI.,  breathed  his  last,  to  the  un- 
speakable grief  of  all  the  lovers  of  learning, 


64  THE  LIFE  OF 

virtue,  and  evangelical  piety.  A  black  cloud 
now  spread  over  England,  which,  after  hover- 
ing awhile,  burst  into  a  dreadful  hurricane, 
and  raged  during  five  years  with  the  most 
destructive  fury! 

Knox  was  at  this  time  in  London,  and  receiv- 
ed the  afflicting  tidings  with  becoming  fortitude 
and  resignation  to  the  sovereign  will  of  heaven. 
The  event  did  not  come  upon  him  unprepared; 
for  a  considerable  time  he  had  anticipated  it, 
and  foresaw  its  probable  consequences.  The 
prospect  had  produced  the  keenest  anguish  in 
his  breast,  and  had  often  drawn  tears  from  his 
eyes.  He  had  frequently  introduced  the  sub- 
ject into  his  public  discourses,  and  into  his 
confidential  conversations  with  his  friends. 
He  remained  in  London  until  the  9th  of  July, 
when  Mary  was  proclaimed  queen,  only  nine 
days  after  the  same  ceremony  had  been  per- 
formed in  that  city,  for  the  amiable  and 
accomplished,  but  unfortunate,  Jane  Gray. 

Knox  felt  strong  indignation  at  the  demon- 
strations of  joy,  given  by  the  inhabitants  of 
London,  and  could  not  refrain  from  publicly 
testifying  his  displeasure,  in  his  sermons,  and 
warning  the  people  of  the  approaching  cala- 


JOHN    KNOX.  55 

mities.  Very  soon,  however,  he  seems  to 
have  withdrawn  from  London,  and  to  have 
retired  to  the  north;  being  justly  apprehensive 
of  the  measures  which  would  be  pursued  by 
the  new  government. 

To  induce  the  Protestants  to  submit  peace- 
ably to  her  government,  Mary  amused  them, 
for  some  time,  with  proclamations,  in  which 
she  promised  to  do  no  violence  to  their  con- 
sciences. The  Protestant  ministers  thought 
it  their  duty  to  improve  this  favourable  respite; 
and  Knox  was  induced  to  return  again  to 
the  south  and  resume  his  labours.  While 
he  itinerated  through  Buckinghamshire,  his 
preaching  was  attended  by  large  audiences, 
which  his  popularity,  and  the  alarming  crisis, 
drew  together.  And  in  no  place  was  his 
preaching  more  eagerly  heard,  than  at  Amer- 
sham,  a  borough  formerly  noted  for  the  general 
reception  of  the  doctrines  of  Wickliffe,  the 
precursor  of  the  reformation  in  England,  and 
from  which  the  seed  sown  by  his  followers 
had  never  been  altogether  eradicated.  Where- 
ever  he  preached,  he  earnestly  exhorted  the 
people  to  repentance,  under  the  threatening 
tokens  of  divine  displeasure,  and  to  a  steady 

7 


66  THE  LIFE  OF 

adherence  to  the  faith  which  they  had  em- 
braced. After  preaching  for  some  time  in 
Buckinghamshire  and  Kent,  Knox  returned 
to  London,  where  he  lodged  in  the  houses 
of  a  Mr.  Locke  and  a  Mr.  Hickman,  two 
respectable  merchants  of  his  acquaintance. 
Thence  he  proceeded  to  Berwick,  where  was 
the  residence  of  Miss  Bowes,  with  whom  it 
was  judged  proper  now  to  consummate  the 
union  which  had  been  long  contemplated. 
But  here  he  was  subjected  to  a  new  trial. 
Strong  opposition  was  made  to  the  marriage 
by  Mr.  Bowes,  the  father  of  the  young  lady. 
This  has  commonly  been  attributed  to  family 
pride;  but  was  probably  influenced  also  by 
religious  considerations.  Still,  however,  the 
marriage  took  place  ;  and  Mrs.  Bowes,  for 
whom  he  entertained  a  high  esteem,  and  his 
wife,  were  very  anxious  for  him  to  settle 
in  Berwick,  or  its  vicinity,  where  it  was 
thought  he  might  be  permitted  to  reside 
peaceably,  though  in  a  more  private  way,  than 
formerly.  But  for  this  some  pecuniary  pro- 
vision would  be  necessary,  for  since  the 
accession  of  queen  Mary,  his  allowance  from 
the   government  had  been  stopped.     Indeed 


JOHN    KNOX.  67 

he  had  received  no  part  of  his  salary  for  the 
last  twelve  months.  His  wife's  relations  were 
abundantly  able  to  give  him  a  sujfficient  esta- 
blishment, but  their  dissatisfaction  with  the 
marriage  rendered  them  averse.  By  the  im- 
portunity of  his  mother-in-law,  he  was  induced 
to  solicit  the  patronage  of  Sir  Robert  Bowes, 
of  London,  who  was  the  uncle  of  his  wife,  but  in 
this  application  he  was  disappointed;  for,  as 
appears  by  a  letter  to  his  mother,  giving  an 
account  of  this  matter,  he  says,  "  You  shall 
understand,  that  this  6th  of  November,  I  spake 
with  Sir  Robert  Bowes,  on  the  matter  you 
know,  according  to  your  request,  whose  dis- 
dainful, yea,  despiteful,  words  have  so  pierced 
my  heart,  that  my  life  is  bitter  unto  me.  I 
bear  a  good  countenance  with  a  sore  troubled 
heart;  while  he  that  ought  to  consider  matters 
with  a  deep  judgment,  is  become  not  only  a 
despiser,  but  a  taunter  of  God's  messengers. 
God  be  merciful  unto  him.  Among  other, 
his  most  unpleasing  words,  while  that  I  was 
about  to  declare  my  part  in  the  whole  matter, 
he  said,  '  away  with  your  rhetorical  reasons, 
for  I  will  not  be  persuaded  by  them.'  God 
knows, I  did  use  no  rhetoric  or  coloured  speech. 


68  THE  LIFE  OF 

but  would  have  spoken  the  truth,  and  that  in 
a  most  simple  manner.  I  am  not  a  good 
orator  in  my  own  cause.  But  what  he  would 
not  be  content  to  hear  of  me.  God  shall  declare 
unto  him,  one  day,  to  his  displeasure,  unless 
he  repent.  It  is  supposed,  that  all  the  matter 
comes  by  you  and  me.  I  pray  God  that  your 
conscience  were  quiet  and  at  peace,  and  I 
regard  not  what  country  consumes  this  my 
wicked  carcass.  And  were  it  not  that  no 
man's  unthankfulness  shall  move  me,  (God 
supporting  my  infirmity,)  to  cease  to  do  profit 
unto  Christ's  congregation,  those  days  should 
be  but  few  that  England  would  give  me 
bread.  And  I  fear  that,  when  all  is  done,  I 
shall  be  driven  to  that  end;  for  I  cannot  abide 
the  disdainful  hatred  of  those  of  whom  not 
only  I  thought  I  might  crave  kindness,  but 
also  to  whom  God  hath  been  by  me  more 
liberal,  than  they  be  thankful,"  &c. 

We  find,  in  another  letter  to  the  same  per- 
son, the  same  indication  of  strong,  indignant 
feeling,  here  manifested.  These  extracts  show 
the  mind  of  the  writer,  more  clearly  than  the 
strongest  description.  We  see  here  the  quick 
sensibility  of  his  temper,  the  keenness  of  his 


JOHN    KNOX.  69 

feelings,  and  his  pride  and  independence  of 
spirit,  struggling  with  afifection  to  his  relations, 
and  a  sense  of  duty. 

About  the  end  of  November,  he  returned 
from  the  south  to  Newcastle.  By  this  time, 
the  parliament  had  repealed  all  the  laws  in 
favour  of  the  Reformation,  but  indulgence  was 
given  to  attend  on  Protestant  worship,  until 
December.  After  this  time, they  were  thrown 
out  of  the  protection  of  the  law,  and  exposed 
to  all  the  penalties  decreed  against  heretics. 
Already  many  of  the  bishops  and  clergy  were 
committed  to  prison;  others  escaped  beyond 
sea.  Knox,  however,  could  not  -prevail  on 
himself  to  flee,  or  to  desist  from  preaching. 
Three  days  after  the  expiration  of  the  time 
of  indulgence,  he  writes  to  one,  "  I  cannot 
answer  your  places  of  Scripture,  nor  yet  write 
the  exposition  of  the  6th  Psalm,  for  every  day 
of  this  week  must  I  preach,  if  this  wicked 
carcass  will  permit.^' 

His  enemies  had  now  the  most  favourable 
opportunity  of  accomplishing  their  designs 
against  him,  as  the  government  was  as  favour- 
able to  them  as  they  could  desire,  and  they 
were  not  backward  in  availing  themselves  of 


70  THE  LIFE  OF 

the  opportunity.  At  the  close  of  December, 
1553,  or  beginning  of  January  1554,  his  ser- 
vant, whom  he  had  sent  to  convey  letters  to 
his  wife,  and  her  mother,  was  seized  and  the 
letters  taken  from  him,  in  the  expectation  of 
finding  in  them  some  ground  of  accusation, 
but  they  contained  only  pious  exhortation,  &c. 
He  now  set  out  with  the  view  of  visiting  his 
friends  at  Berwick,  accompanied  by  some  of 
his  w^ife's  relations,  who  believing  that  he  was 
in  imminent  danger,  prevailed  on  him,  but 
strongly  against  his  own  inclination,  to  defer 
going  to  Berwick,  and  seek  a  safe  retreat  on 
the  coast.  From  this  place  he  wrote  to  his 
wife  and  mother,  informing  them  of  the  rea- 
sons of  his  absconding,  and  the  little  prospect, 
which  he  had  at  that  time  of  seeing  them. 

"  His  brethren,"  he  said,  '^  had  partly  by 
admonition,  and  partly  by  tears,  compelled 
him  to  obey,  somewhat  contrary  to  his  own 
mind,  "  for  never  could  he  die  in  a  more 
honest  quarrel,  than  by  suffering  as  a  witness 
for  that  truth  of  which  God  had  made  him  a 
messenger."  Still  he  promised  to  yield  to  the 
voice  of  his  brethren,  and  give  place  to  the 
rage  and  fury  of  Satan,  for  a  time. 


JOHN  KNOX.  71 

Having  ascertained  that  the  apprehensions 
of  his  friends  were  too  well  founded,  and  that 
he  could  not  elude  the  pursuit  of  his  enemies, 
if  he  remained  in  England,  he  procured  a 
vessel,  which  on  the  2Sth  of  January  landed 
him  safely  in  Dieppe,  a  port  of  Normandy  in 
France. 


PERIOD    IV. 


FROM  HIS   DEPAr^TURE  FROM  ENGLAND,  TO   HIS    INVITATION   TO 
SCOTLAND,  BY  THE  PROTESTANT  NOBILITY,  IN   1557. 


The  flight  of  Knox  from  the  scene  of  danger 
and  persecution,  in  England,  though  in  con- 
formity with  the  direction  of  Christ,  to  his 
disciples,  **  when  they  persecute  you  in  one 
city,  flee  ye  to  another ;"  yet  upon  reflexion, 
was  far  from  being  satisfactory  to  his  own 
mind;  especially  when  he  thought  upon  the 
case  of  his  imprisoned  and  persecuted  breth- 
ren, whom  he  had  left  to  bear  the  violence  of 
the  bursting  storm.  In  a  letter  to  Mrs. 
Bowes,  he  expresses  his  feelings  in  strong 
language,  and  mingled  with  evident  regret  for 


72  'i'HE  LIFE  OF 

the  course  which  he,  in  compliance  with  the 
urgent  importunity  of  his  friends,  had  been 
induced  to  pursue.  "  Some  will  ask,"  says 
he  in  this  letter,  *^  why  then  did  I  flee?  As- 
suredly, I  cannot  tell.  But  of  one  thing  I  am 
sure,  the  fear  of  death  was  not  the  cause  of 
my  fleeing.  I  trust  that  one  cause  hath  been, 
to  let  me  see  with  my  corporal  eyes,  that  all 
had  not  a  true  heart  to  Christ  Jesus,  that  in 
the  day  of  rest  and  peace,  bare  a  fair  face. 
But  my  fleeing  is  no  matter;  by  God's  grace 
I  may  come  to  battle  before  that  all  the  con- 
flict be  ended.  And,  haste  the  time,  0  Lord! 
at  thy  good  pleasure,  that  once  again  my 
tongue  may  praise  thy  holy  name  before  the 
congregation,  if  it  were  in  the  very  hour  of 
death.'' — "  And  albeit,  that  I  have,  in  the  be- 
ginning, appeared  to  play  the  faint-hearted 
and  feeble  soldier;  yet  my  prayer  is,  that  I 
may  be  restored  to  the  battle  again.  And 
blessed  be  God,  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  I  am  not  left  so  bare  without  comfort, 
but  my  hope  is  to  attain  such  mercy,  that  if  a 
short  end  be  not  made  of  all  my  miseries,  by 
final  death,  which  were  to  me  no  small  ad- 
vantage, that  yet  by  him,  who  never  despiseth 


JOHN  KNOX.  73 

the  sobs  of  Ihe  sore  afflicted,  I  shall  be  so  en- 
couraged to  fight,  that  England  and  Scotland 
shall  both  know,  that  I  am  ready  to  suffer 
more  than  either  poverty  or  exile,  for  the 
possession  of  that  doctrine,  and  that  heavenly 
religion,  whereof  it  has  pleased  his  merciful 
providence,  to  make  me,  among  others,  a 
simple  soldier,  and  witness-  bearer,  unto  men." 

During  his  retirement  at  Dieppe,  he  em- 
ployed his  time,  in  entering  into  a  strict  scru- 
tiny and  solemn  examination  of  his  past  con- 
duct, the  result  of  which  he  has,  with  many 
expressions  of  humility  and  penitence,  on 
account  of  his  many  deficiencies,  recorded  in 
his  private  papers.  His  deepest  contrition 
seems  to  have  been,  on  account  of  a  want  of 
sufficient  diligence  and  fidelity  in  preaching 
the  precious  Gospel,  which  had  been  commit- 
ted to  him  as  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 

He  was  also  occupied,  during  this  leisure, 
in  writing  suitable  advices  and  exhortations  to 
his  friends,  whom  he  could  no  longer  instruct 
by  his  sermons  and  conversation.  Among 
these  writings  was  an  exposition  of  the  6th 
Psalm,  which  at  the  request  of  Mrs.  Bowes, 
he  had  begun  in  England;  and  an  "  Address  to 


74  THE  LIFE  OF 

those  in  England  among  whom  he  had  been 
employed  as  a  preacher."  The  main  object 
of  this  "  address'^  was^,  to  warn  the  people, 
who  professed  the  reformed  religion,  against 
defection  from  the  truth,  and  against  giving 
countenance  to  the  idolatrous  worship  now 
restored  among  them.  The  conclusion  is  a 
most  impressive  and  eloquent  exhortation,  in 
which  he  appeals  to  their  consciences,  their 
hopes,  their  fears,  their  feelings,  and  in  which 
he  adjures  them,  by  all  that  is  sacred  and  dear 
to  them,  as  men,  as  parents,  and  as  Christians, 
not  to  draw  back  from  their  good  profession, 
and  plunge  themselves  and  their  posterity, 
into  the  gulf  of  ignorance  and  idolatry. 

This  letter  cannot  but  appear  remarkable, 
when  the  circumstances  of  the  author  are 
duly  considered.  He  was  a  forlorn  exile  in  a 
strange  country,  without  a  single  acquaintance, 
and  ignorant  where  he  should  find  a  place  of 
abode,  or  the  means  of  subsistence. 

On  the  last  day  of  February,  1554,  Knox  set 
out  from  Dieppe,  like  the  Hebrew  patriarch 
of  old,  not  knowing  whither  he  went;  and, 
committing  his  way  to  God,  travelled  through 
France  and  came  to  Switzerland.     A  corres- 


JOHN  KNOX.  75 

pondence  had  been  kept  up  between  some  of 
the  English  Reformers,  and  some  of  the  most 
noted  divines  of  the  Helvetic  church.  The 
latter  had  already  heard,  with  the  deepest  sor- 
row, of  the  recent  overthrow  of  the  refor- 
mation in  England.  Upon  making  himself 
known  to  them,  Knox,  with  whose  character 
they  were  not  unacquainted,  was  received  in 
the  most  cordial  manner,  and  treated  with  the 
kindest  Christian  hospitality. 

After  visiting  the  churches  of  Switzerland, 
and  conferring  with  the  learned  Reformers  of 
that  country,  about  the  state  of  affairs  in  Eng- 
land, he  returned  in  the  month  of  May  to 
Dieppe,  that  he  might  receive  intelligence 
from  England;  and  these  visits  he  frequently 
repeated,  as  long  as  he  resided  on  the  conti- 
nent. 

The  effect  produced  on  the  susceptible  mind 
of  Knox,  by  the  kind  and  hospitable  treatment 
which  he  experienced  from  his  Swiss  brethren, 
and  the  sweet  Christian  communion  which  he 
held  with  them,  after  a  season  so  forlorn  and 
melancholy,  as  that  which  he  went  through, 
after  leaving  first  his  native  country,  will  be 
best  understood  by  a  short  extract  from  one 


76  THE  LIFE  OF 

of  his  letters.  For  having  discoursed  to  his 
afflicted  brethren,  to  whom  the  letter  was 
addressed,  respecting  the  situation  of  the  dis- 
ciples during  that  day  which  their  Lord  lay  in 
the  grave,  and  the  sudden  transition  which 
they  experienced  from  the  depth  of  sorrow  to 
the  summit  of  joy,  upon  the  re-appearance  of 
their  Master,  he  adds,  "  The  remembrance, 
thereof,  is  unto  my  heart  great  matter  of  con- 
solation. For  yet  my  good  hope  is,  that,  one 
day  or  other,  Christ  Jesus  that  now  is  crucified 
in  England,  shall  rise  again  in  despite  of  his 
enemies,  and  shall  appear  to  his  weak  and  sore 
troubled  disciples;  for  yet  some  he  hath  in 
that  wretched  and  miserable  realm,  to  whom 
he  shall  say,  'Peace  be  unto  you;  it  is  I,  be 
not  afraid.'  " 

Knox  was  also  greatly  refreshed  by  hearing 
of  the  invincible  constancy  of  his  mother-in- 
law,  in  adhering  to  the  Protestant  faith  and 
profession  ;  notwithstanding  all  the  urgent 
importunities  of  her  husband,  to  induce  her  to 
comply  with  the  Roman  Catholic  religion. 

At  this  time,  he  entertained  some  thoughts 
of  visiting  Berwick;  but  he  was  dissuaded  by 
his  friends,  as  it  could  not  have  been   done 


JOHN  KNOX.  77 

without  the  imminent  danger  of  his  life,  and 
no  good  for  the  suffering  church  could  have 
been  accomplished  by  such  a  visit. 

On  his  return  from  Dieppe  to  Switzerland, 
Knox  revisited  Geneva,  and  for  the  first  time 
became  acquainted  with  Calvin;  and  they  two 
being  of  perfectly  congenial  minds,  and  agreed 
in  religious  opinion,  an  intimate  friendship 
between  them  soon  sprung  up.  They  were 
also  nearly  of  the  same  age;  and,  in  the  pro- 
minent traits  of  their  characters  there  was  a 
striking  resemblance.  The  Genevan  reformer 
was  highly  pleased  with  the  piety  and  talents 
of  Knox,  who,  in  his  turn,  entertained  a  higher 
esteem  and  veneration  for  Calvin,  than  for 
any  other  reformer.  As  Geneva  furnished 
many  advantages  for  study,  Knox  determined 
to  make  it  the  chief  place  of  his  residence 
during  his  exile;  especially,  as  he  approved 
highly  of  the  religious  order  established  there. 

Still,  however,  his  thoughts  could  not  be 
weaned  from  his  own  afflicted  country;  there- 
fore, in  July,  he  made  another  journey  to 
Dieppe,  and  there  received  the  most  distress- 
ing intelligence,  of  the  increased  severities  of 
the  government  against  all  Protestants;  and, 

8 


78  THE  LIFE  OF 

what  wounded  him  more  deeply,  the  apostasy  . 
of  many  who   had   been  under  his  ministry. 
While  under  the  painful  impressions  produced 
by  this  state  of  things,  he  composed  his  *^  Jid- 
nionition  to  England^^  which  was  published 
about  the  end  of  this  year.     The  exasperation 
of  his  ardent  spirit,  when  he  wrote  this  address, 
will  account  for  the  severity  of  the  language, 
which  has  been  so  much  used  to  his  discredit, 
by  his  enemies.     We  undertake  not  to  justify 
all  the   vehemence  and   bitterness  which,  on 
this  occasion,  our  reformer  poured  forth  against 
the  civil  persecutors  of  the  unoffending  chil- 
dren of  God.     But,  it  may  be  asked,  is  there 
no  apology  for  his  severity  to  be  found  in  the 
characters  of  the   persons  against  whom   he 
wrote  ?  and  in  the  state  of  his  own  feelings, 
lacerated,  not   by  personal   sufferings,  but   by 
sympathy  with  his  persecuted  brethren,  who 
were  thrown  into  prisons  by  their  inhuman 
countrymen,  "  as  sheep  for  the  slaughter,"  to 
be  brought  forth  and  barbarously  immolated 
to  appease  the  Roman  Moloch  ?     What  terms 
could  be  too  strong  for  stigmatizing  the  exe- 
crable system  of  persecution,  coolly  projected, 
by  the  dissembling,  vindictive  Gardiner,  the 


JOHN  KNOX.  79 

brutal  barbarity  of  the  bloody  Bonner,  and  the 
unrelenting,  insatiable  cruelty  of  Mary  ? — 
who,  having  extinguished  the  feelings  of  hu- 
manity, and  divested  herself  of  the  tenderness 
which  characterizes  her  sex,  issued  orders  for 
the  murder  of  her  subjects,  until  her  own 
husband,  bigotted  and  unfeeling  as  he  was 
turned  with  disgust  from  the  spectacle;  and 
who  continued  to  urge  to  fresh  severities,  the 
willing  instruments  of  her  cruelty,  after  they 
were  sated  with  blood. 

Knox  returned  to  Geneva,  and  applied  him- 
self to   study   with  all  the  ardour  of  youth; 
although  his  age  now  bordered  on  fifty.     It 
was  during  this  period  that  he  seems   to  have 
acquired  a  competent  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew 
language,   of   which  he  was   before  ignorant. 
No  doubt  his  expenses,  during  his  exile,  were 
as  small  as  frugality  of  living  could  make  them; 
but  still  it  may  reasonably  be  inquired,  how 
did  he  subsist?     His  mother-in-law,  by  reason 
of  the  stern  opposition  of  her  husband,  had  it 
in  her  power  to  afford  him    no   assistance,  and 
he   had   come   away  with   very   small   funds, 
which  his  friends  were  able  to  put  into  his 
hands;  and  his  independent  spirit  would  not 


80  THE  LIFE  OF 

permit  him  to  be  burdensome  to  strangers, 
who  had  kindly  received  him.  It  appears 
from  his  letters,  that  remittances  were  made 
to  him  from  particular  friends,  in  England 
and  Scotland,  during  his  residence  on  the  con- 
tinent. 

The  persecution  having  become  very  hot  in 
England,  many  learned  Protestants  sought 
safety  by  retreating  to  the  continent.  It  was 
computed  that,  towards  the  close  of  the  year 
1554,  eight  hundred  learned  and  persecuted 
Englishmen  had  taken  refuge  in  various  cities, 
where  they  were,  in  general,  received  with 
Christian  hospitality.  The  places  to  which 
the  most  of  them  resorted,  and  where  they 
obtained  a  settlement,  were  Zurich,  Basle, 
Geneva,  Arrow,  Embden,  Wezel,  Strasburg, 
Duysburg,  and  Frankfort. 

Frankfort  on  the  Maine,  a  rich  imperial  city, 
had  early  embraced  the  Reformation,  and  be- 
friended Protestant  refugees  from  all  countries, 
as  far  as  this  could  be  done  without  coming  to 
an  open  breach  with  the  emperor,  who  watched 
their  conduct  with  a  jealous  eye.  Already 
there  was  a  church  of  French  Protestants 
there;  and  on  the   14th  of  July,   1554,  the 


JOHN  KNOX.  8X 

English  exiles  obtained  from  the  magistrates 
the  joint  use  of  the  place  of  worship  allotted 
to  the  French,  with  liberty  to  perform  worship 
in  their  own  language.  This  was  granted, 
upon  condition  that  they  should  conform,  in 
their  public  worship,  as  nearly  as  possible,  to 
the  forms  of  the  French  Church.  The  offer 
was  gratefully  accepted  by  the  English,  and  it 
was  agreed,  among  themselves,  that  in  the 
use  of  the  liturgy,  they  would  omit  the  litany, 
the  audible  responses,  the  surplice,  and  other 
ceremonies;  which,  to  the  reformed  churches 
of  the  continent,  could  not  but  appear  strange. 
Having  adopted  their  measures  harmoniously, 
and  elected  temporary  deacons,  they  elected 
also  a  pastor,  and  agreed  upon  some  rules  of 
discipline.  They  then  wrote  a  circular  letter 
to  their  brethren,  scattered  in  different  places, 
to  come  to  Frankfort,  and  join  them  in  their 
privileges,  and  unite  their  prayers  for  the  af- 
flicted Church  of  England.  When  the  election 
of  pastors  took  place,  Knox  was  one  of  those 
chosen,  who  received  information  of  his  ap- 
pointment, by  a  fraternal  epistle,  or  call,  in 
which  they  say,  "  Whereupon,  we,  assembled 
together  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  (we  hope,)  have, 

8* 


82  THE  LIFE  OF 

with  one  voice  and  consent,  chosen  you  to  be 
one  of  the  ministers  of  our  congregation  here, 
to  preach  unto  us  the  most  lively  word  of  God, 
according  to  the  gift  that  God  had  given  you; 
forasmuch  as  we  have  here,  through  the  mer- 
ciful goodness  of  God,  a  church  to  be  congre- 
gated together  in  the  name  of  Christ,  and  be 
all  of  one  body,  one  nation,  tongue,  and 
country.  And  at  this  present  having  need  of 
such  a  one  as  you,  we  do  desire  you,  and  also 
require  you,  in  the  name  of  God,  not  to  deny 
us,  nor  to  refuse  this  our  request;  but  that  you 
will  aid,  keep,  and  assist  us,  with  your  presence 
in  this  our  good  and  godly  enterprise,  which 
we  have  taken  in  hand,  to  the  glory  of  God, 
and  profit  of  his  congregation,  and  the  poor 
sheep  of  Christ  scattered  abroad,  who  with  your, 
and  like  presences,  would  come  hither  and  be 
of  one  fold,  whereas  now  they  wander  abroad 
as  lost  sheep,  without  any  guide.  We  mis- 
trust not  that  you  will  joyfully  accept  this  call. 
Fare  ye  well.  From  Frankfort,  this  24th  of 
September."  This  call  was  subscribed  by 
John  Bale  and  twenty  other  persons. 

Knox  was  averse  to  undertake  this  charge, 
either  from  an  unwillingness  to  relinquish  his 


-      JOHN  KNOX.  83 

studies  at  Geneva,  or,  because  he  apprehended 
difficulties  in  the  congregation  at  Frankfort. 
By  the  persuasion  of  Calvin,  however,  he  was 
induced  to  comply  with  the  call,  and  repairing 
to  Frankfort  in  November,  commenced  his 
ministry  with  the  universal  consent  and  ap- 
probation of  the  congregation.  But  before  he 
arrived  the  seeds  of  dissension  were  already 
sown  in  the  congregation;  for  the  exiles  at 
Zurich,  in  answer  to  the  circular  received  from 
Frankfort,  signified  that  they  would  not  come 
unless  they  received  security  that  the  worship 
of  God  should  be  conducted,  exactly,  accord- 
ing to  the  forms  u«ed  in  England,  last  set  forth 
by  King  Edward.  The  brethren  at  Frank- 
fort replied,  that  they  had  obtained  liberty  of 
a  plan  of  worship,  upon  condition  of  conform- 
ing, as  nearly  as  possible,  to  the  service  of  the 
French  church,  and  that  there  was  a  number 
of  things  in  the  English  service  book  which 
would  be  offensive  to  the  Protestants,  among 
whom  they  resided,  and  which  had  been  the 
occasion  of  scruple  to  conscientious  men  at 
home.  Other  things  they  alleged  in  regard  to 
the  unessential  nature  of  the  ceremonies  laid 
aside;  but  their  answer  was  not  satisfactory  to 


84  THE  LIFE  OP 

the  brethren  at  Zurich;  and  by  letters  to  the 
exiles  at  Strasburg,  they  endeavoured  to  bring 
them  to  the  sanie  sentiments;  and,  moreover, 
they  fomented  divisions  in  the  congregation  at 
Frankfort. 

Knox  finding,  on  his  arrival,  that  the  con- 
gregation was  divided  into  two  parties,  endea- 
voured to  mediate  between  them,  and  to  avoid 
every  thing  which  tended  to  widen  or  continue 
the  breach.  Although  the  congregation  had 
adopted  the  Genevan  form  of  administering 
the  sacraments,  he  would  not  proceed  until  he 
had  consulted  the  brethren  residing  in  other 
places;  but,  at  the  same  time  plainly  signified, 
that  he  could  not  administer  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per agreeably  to  the  English  liturgy.  He 
requested,  therefore,  that  if  he  might  not  be 
permitted  to  perform  the  service  in  a  manner 
more  consonant  to  Scripture,  some  other  per- 
son might  be  employed  in  this  duty,  and  he 
would  willingly  confine  himself  to  preaching. 
But  if  neither  of  these  could  be  granted,  he 
besought  them  to  release  him  altogether  from 
his  charge.  To  this  they  would  by  no  means 
consent. 

Knox  and  some  others,  having   been   ap- 


JOHN  KNOX.  85 

pointed  to  draw  up  a  summary  of  the  book  of 
Common  Prayer,  they  sent  it  to  Calvin  for 
his  opinion,  and  requesting  his  advice  in  the 
whole  matter.  Calvin  wrote  them  a  letter, 
dated  January  20,  1555.  He  lamented  their 
unseemly  contentions;  said,  that  he  had  al- 
ways recommended  moderation  respecting 
ceremonies;  censured  those  who  would  con- 
sent to  no  change  of  old  customs.  He  said, 
that  in  the  English  liturgy  he  found  many 
tolerable  fooleries,  (tolerabiles  ineptias,)  i.  e. 
things  which  might  be  tolerated  in  the  begin- 
ning of  a  reformation,  but  ought  afterwards  to 
be  removed;  and  he  thought,  that  the  present 
condition  of  the  English  warranted  them  to 
attempt  this,  and  to  agree  upon  an  order  more 
conducive  to  edification;  and  that  for  his  part 
he  could  not  understand  what  those  meant,  who 
discovered  such  fondness  for  popish  dregs. 

This  letter  being  read  to  the  congregation, 
had  the  effect  of  repressing  the  keenest  of  those 
who  urged  the  unlimited  use  of  the  liturgy; 
and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  draw  up  a 
form,  which  might  accommodate  all  differen- 
ces. They  accordingly  brought  in  a  form,  in 
which  some  things  were  taken  from  the  Eng- 


86  THE  LIFE  OF 

lish  liturgy,  and  others  addecl,  which  was  to 
continue  in  force  until  the  next  April;  and  if, 
in  the  meantime,  any  dispute  arose,  it  should 
be  referred  to  five  of  the  most  celebrated  for- 
eign divines.  This  agreement  was  subscribed 
by  the  whole  congregation,  and  thanks  were 
offered  to  God  for  this  amicable  adjustment  of 
their  dissensions. 

But  this  peace  was  of  short  duration;  for  on 
the  13th  of  March,  Dr.  Cox,  who  had  been 
preceptor  to  Edward  VI.,  arrived  at  Frankfort 
from  England,  vi^ith  some  others  in  his  com- 
pany. The  very  first  time  these  persons  at- 
tended public  worship,  they  violated  the  agree- 
ment into  which  the  congregation  had  entered, 
by  answering  aloud  after  the  minister  in  the 
time  of  divine  service.  And  v/hen  admon- 
ished by  some,  they  answered,  that  they 
would  do  as  they  had  done  in  England;  and 
they  would  have  the  face  of  an  English  church. 
On  the  following  Sabbath,  one  of  them  intru- 
ded himself  into  the  pulpit,  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  pastors  or  the  congregation,  and 
read  the  litany;  Cox,  and  the  other  accom- 
plices, echoing  the  responses. 

Such  an  outrage  on  all  decency  and  order, 


JOHN  KNOX.  87 

and  insult  to  the  body,  could  not  be  passed 
over  in  silence.  It  was  Knox's  turn  to  offici- 
ate in  the  afternoon,  and  in  the  regular  course 
of  lecturing  on  Genesis,  he  had  come  to  the 
behaviour  of  Ham  to  his  father,  Noah,  as  he 
lay  exposed  in  the  tent.  Having  taken  occa- 
sion to  speak  of  the  infirmities  of  brethren 
which  ought  to  be  concealed,  he  observed  that 
there  were  other  things,  which,  as  tending  to 
the  dishonour  of  God  and  the  disturbance  of 
his  church,  ought  to  be  disclosed  and  publicly 
rebuked.  He  then  adverted  to  the  dissension 
which  had  existed,  and  which  it  had  cost  so 
much  pains  to  reconcile,  and  spoke  of  the  joy 
produced  in  all,  by  the  happy  agreement 
which  had  taken  place,  but  which  had  that 
day,  been  flagrantly  violated.  This,  he  said, 
it  became  not  the  proudest  of  them  to  have 
attempted:  that,  nothing  which  was  destitute 
of  a  divine  warrant,  ought  to  be  obtruded  upon 
any  Christian  church.  In  that  book,  for 
which  some  entertained  such  an  overweening 
fondness,  he  would  undertake  to  prove  pub- 
licly, that  there  were  things  imperfect,  im- 
pure, and  superstitious;  and  if  any  would  go 
about  to  burden  a  free  congregation  with  such 


88  THE  LIFE  OF 

things,  he  would  not  fail,  as  often  as  he  occu- 
pied that  place,  (provided  his  text  afforded 
occasion,)  to  oppose  their  design.  He  then 
observed,  that  he  believed  that  slackness  in 
reforming  religion,  when  time  and  opportunity 
offered,  was  one  cause  of  the  divine  displeasure 
against  England;  and  adverted  to  the  trouble 
which  Hooper  had  suffered  for  refusing  some 
of  the  ceremonies.  He  adverted  also,  to  the 
want  of  discipline,  and  the  shameful  pluralities 
tolerated  in  the  English  Church. 

This  reproof,  as  might  be  supposed  gave 
offence  to  the  party  of  Cox,  and  a  meeting  of 
the  congregation  was  called  in  consequence  of 
it ;  but  when  the  people  came  together,  noth- 
ing was  said  about  the  sermon,  but  Cox  and 
his  friends  demanded  to  be  enrolled  among 
the  members  of  the  congregation.  This  many 
objected  to,  but  Knox  showed  his  magnani- 
mity and  moderation,  by  advocating  their 
motion,  although  he  knew  that  they  had  noth- 
ing less  in  view,  than  to  exclude  him  from  the 
pulpit.  But  he  trusted  that  the  justice  of  his 
cause  would  certainly  disappoint  them,  and  on 
the  occasion,  addressed  them  in  the  following 
words:  "  I  know  that  your  earnest  desire  to 


JOHN  KNOX.  89 

be  received  at  this  instant,  within  the  number 
of  the  congregation,  is,  that  by  the  multitude 
of  your  voices,  ye  may  overthrow  my  cause ; 
howbeit,  the  matter  is  so  evident,  ye  shall  not 
be  able  to  do  it.     I  fear  not  your  judgment, 
and  therefore  do  require,  that  ye  might  be  ad- 
mitted."   But  he  was  mistaken,  for  no  sooner 
were  they  admitted,  and  had  gained  a  majo- 
rity of  votes   in   the  congregation,  than  they 
discharged  him  from  preaching,  and  from  all 
interference  in  the  affairs  of  the  congregation. 
This  proceeding  was  received  with  indigna- 
tion by  the  old  congregation,  and  they  made 
a  representation  of  the  case  to  the  magistrates 
of  Frankfort,  who  after  attempting  to   bring 
about    an  accommodation  in    vain,  issued  an 
order,  that  the  worship  as  used  by  the  French 
Church,  should  hereafter  be  exactly  conformed 
to,  as  nothing  but  confusion  had  ensued  since 
this   was   relinquished.     The    Coxian   party, 
pretended  a  cheerful  submission  to  this  order, 
while  they  clandestinely  concerted  means  for 
its  overthrow  and  the  restoration  of  the  whole 
English  liturgy.     But  Knox's  influence  with 
the  congregation  still  standing  in  their  way, 
they  determined  on  a  scheme  to  get  rid  of 

9 


90  THE  LIFE  OF 

him,   the   baseness   of  which    cannot  be   too 
strongly  reprobated.     Two  of  them,  with  the 
concurrence  of  the  others,  went  privately  to 
the  magistrates,  and  accused  him  oi  high  trea- 
son against  the  emperor  of  Germany,  his  son 
Philip,  and  queen  Mary  of  England;  putting 
into  their  hands  a  book  upon  which  the  charge 
was  founded.     This  was   no   other  than  the 
book  already  mentioned,  entitled  '^Admoni- 
tion to  England,^^  and  the  passage  on  which 
the  accusation  was  founded,  was  one,  spoken 
by  him   at    Amersham   in   Buckinghamshire, 
when  he  heard  the  rumour  of  the  marriage  of 
Mary,  with  Philip,  the  son  and  heir  of  Charles 
V.     The  words  are,  "  0  England,  England, 
thou  obstinately  wilt  return  unto  Egypt,  that 
is,  contract  confederacy,  league,  or  marriage 
with  such  princes  as  do  maintain  and  advance 
idolatry,  such  as  the  emperor,  (who  is  no  less 
an  enemy  to  Christ,  than  ever  was  Nero)  if 
for  the  pleasure  of  such  princes,  thou   return 
to  thy  old  abominations,  before  used   under 
papistry,   then,    0    England,    thou    shalt    be 
plagued  and  brought  to  desolation,  by  means 
of  those  whose  favour  thou    seekest."     The 
other  passage  related  to  the  cruelties  of  queen 
Mary,  of  England. 


JOHN    KNOX.  91 

Upon  receiving  this  serious  accusation,  the 
magistrates  sent  for  Whittingham,  a  respectable 
member  of  the  English  congregation,  to  learn 
the  true  character  of  Knox,  who  told  them, 
that  he  was  "  a  learned,  grave,  and  godly 
man."  They  then  took  measures  to  obtain 
an  exact  Latin  translation  of  the  passages ;  and 
fearing,  lest  some  report  of  the  matter  should 
come  to  the  emperor's  council  at  Augsburg, 
they  first  requested  Knox  to  desist  from 
preaching  there,  and  then  desired  his  friend 
Whittingham,  to  advise  him  privately  to  depart 
from  Frankfort.  At  the  same  time,  they  did 
not  conceal  their  abhorrence  of  the  course 
pursued  by  his  enemies. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  Knox  delivered  a 
very  consolatory  discourse  to  about  fifty  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation,  assembled  in  the 
evening,  at  his  lodgings ;  and  the  next  day, 
they  accompanied  him,  some  distance,  on  his 
way,  as  he  departed  from  Frankfort,  and  with 
heavy  hearts  and  many  tears,  committed  him 
to  God  ;  and  thus  took  their  leave  of  their 
esteemed  pastor. 

Upon  retiring  from  Frankfort,  Knox  direct- 
ed his  course  to  Geneva,  where  he  was  cordi- 


92  THE  LIFE  OF 

ally  welcomed  back  by  Calvin.  As  Knox 
had  accepted  the  call  to  Frankfort  very  much 
under  the  influence  of  his  advice,  he  felt  much 
hurt  at  the  treatment  which  he  had  received ; 
and  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Cox,  who  had  written  an 
apologetic  epistle  to  him,  he  could  not  conceal 
his  opinion,  that  Knox  had  been  used  in  an 
unbrotherly  and  unchristian  manner. 

In  the  event,  it  appeared  that  Knox  had 
been  removed  from  Frankfort,  by  Providence, 
to  be  employed  in  a  more  important  field  of 
usefulness.  From  the  time  of  his  leaving  his 
native  country,  he  still  entertained  the  hope  of 
being  one  day  permitted  to  return  thither  to 
preach  the  Gospel.  After  the  surrender  of 
the  castle  of  St.  Andrews,  and  the  banishment 
of  the  Protestants,  who  had  taken  refuge  in  it, 
an  irrecoverable  blow  seemed  to  have  been 
given  to  the  Reformation  in  Scotland.  The 
Romish  clergy  triumphed  in  their  victory, 
and  flattered  themselves  that  they  had  stifled 
the  voice  of  opposition.  There  were  still 
many  Protestants,  scattered  through  the  king- 
dom, but  they  satisfied  themselves  with  re- 
taining their  sentiments,  in  secret,  without 
exposing  their  lives  to  certain  destruction,  by 


JOHN  KNOX.  93 

avowing  them.  An  event  which  threatened 
the  extinction  of  the  Reformation  in  England, 
was  the  means  of  reviving  it  in  Scotland  ;  for 
several  of  those  who  fled  from  the  persecution 
of  MarVj  took  refuge  in  that  country.  Tra- 
velling from  place  to  place,  they  disseminated 
the  seeds  of  evangelical  doctrine.  Among 
these  was  William  Harlow  and  John  Wil- 
lock,  who  afterwards  became  the  chief  co- 
adjutor of  Knox,  in  promoting  the  Reforma- 
tion, who  entertained  the  highest  esteem  and 
affection  for  him.  Willock  was  not  inferior 
to  Knox  in  learning ;  and  although  he  did  not 
equal  him  in  intrepidity  and  eloquence,  sur- 
passed him  in  affability*  prudence,  and  address; 
by  which  means  he  was  sometimes  able  to 
maintain  his  station  and  accomplish  his  pur- 
poses, when  his  colleague  could  not  act  with 
safety  or  success.  He  was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, but  having  at  an  early  period  embraced 
the  Reformation,  fled  into  England.  He  was 
afterwards  chaplain  to  the  Duke  of  Suffolk, 
the  father  of  Lady  Jane  Grey,  and  on  the  ac- 
cession of  Mary,  retired  into  Holland. 

After  Knox's  return  to  Geneva,  his  anxiety 
to  see  his  wife,  and  see  how  matters  went  in  his 

9* 


94  THE  LIFE  OF 

native  country,  induced  him,  in  despite  of  all 
dangers,  to  sail  from  Dieppe,  in  August,  1555, 
and  landed  near  the  borders  of  England  and 
Scotland.  He  repaired  immediately  to  Ber- 
wick, and  had  the  satisfaction  of  finding  his 
wife  and  her  mother  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances, and  enjoying  the  comforts  of  religious 
society  with  several  individuals  in  that  city; 
who,  like  themselves,  had  not  "bowed  the 
knee  to  the  established  idolatry."  Having  re- 
mained there  some  time,  he  went  to  Edinburg, 
secretly  to  visit  the  Protestants,  and  after  a  short 
stay,  to  return  again  to  Berwick.  The  friends 
of  the  Reformation  were  much  gratified  at  see- 
ing Knox,  and  were  delighted  with  his  evangel- 
ical discourses  delivered  in  private  houses,  es- 
pecially in  that  of  Mr.  James  Syme,  which  was 
the  common  resort  of  the  friends  of  the  re- 
formed doctrine.  The  number  who  wished  to 
hear  him  so  increased,  that  he  was  obliged  to 
address  them  in  successive  companies,  so,  that 
he  was  almost  unremittingly  employed  night 
and  day.  Among  the  leading  Protestants  then 
in  Edinburg,  besides  Willock,  who  had  return- 
ed to  his  native  country,  were  John  Erskine  of 
Dun,  and  William  Maitland.     Knox,  upon  his 


JOHN  KNOX.  95 

arrival  in  Scotland,  found  to  his  great  dissatis- 
faction, that  the  friends  of  the  Reformation 
continued  to  attend  on  the  popish  worship, 
and  to  be  present  at  the  mass.  This  course, 
indeed,  was  ingeniously  defended  by  Maitland, 
at  a  meeting  held  for  the  discussion  of  the 
point;  but  Knox  so  clearly  demonstrated  the 
evil  and  unlawfulness  of  the  practice,  that  all 
were  convinced,  and  agreed  henceforward  to 
abstain  from  such  temporizing  conduct. 

At  the  urgent  request  of  John  Erskine, 
Knox  accompanied  him  to  his  seat  of  Dun  in 
Angus,  where,  for  a  whole  month,  he  remained 
preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  hungry  people 
every  day.  His  sermons  were  attended  by 
the  principal  people  in  the  neighbourhood. 
When  he  returned  to  Edinburg  he  was  attend- 
ed by  some  of  the  chief  nobility,  as  Lord 
Lorn,  afterwards  Earl  of  Argyle;  Mr.  Mar, 
afterwards  Earl  of  Mar;  James  Stewart,  natu- 
ral son  of  James  V.,  afterwards  Earl  of  Mur- 
ray; the  two  last  of  whom  Knox  lived  to  see 
regents  of  Scotland.  These  noblemen  were 
highly  pleased  with  the  doctrine  which  he 
taught.  He  was  conducted  by  some  of  his 
friends  to  Kyle,  the  ancient  receptacle  of  the 


96  THE  LIFE  OF 

Scottish  Lollards,  where  he  found  a  number  of 
adherents  of  the  Refornried  doctrine.  He  also 
preached  and  dispensed  the  Lord's  Supper  in 
several  private  houses  in  the  town  of  Ayr. 
He  was  also  sent  for  by  the  Earl  of  Glencairn, 
and  preached  and  administered  the  Sacrament 
at  his  manor  of  Finlayston,  to  the  Earl,  his 
lady,  two  sons,  and  a  few  friends.  Most  of 
the  gentlemen  of  Mearns  were  adherents  of 
the  reformed  religion,  and  did  now  make  a 
public  profession  by  sitting  down  at  the  Lord's 
Supper;  on  which  occasion  they  entered  into 
a  solemn  bond  or  league,  to  renounce  the 
popish  religion,  and  to  maintain  the  preaching 
of  the  Gospel  as  Providence  should  favour 
them  with  opportunities. 

For  a  while  these  meetings  were  conducted 
with  so  much  caution  and  concealment,  that 
they  were  not  known  to  the  priests;  but  as 
the  number  of  hearers  increased,  it  became 
impracticable  to  prevent  the  knowledge  of 
them  from  transpiring.  Interest  was  made  by 
the  bishops  for  Knox's  apprehension,  but  the 
Queen  Regent  discouraged  the  application.  At 
length,  however,  the  effects  of  his  preaching 
were  so  manifest,  and  the  clamour  against  him 


JOHN  KNOX.  97 

SO  great,  that  he  was  summoned  to  appear  be- 
fore a  convention  of  the  clergy  in  the  church 
of  Black  Friars  in  Edinburg.  He  determined 
to  attend,  and  with  that  view  came,  on  the 
day  appointed,  accompanied  by  Erskine  of 
Dun.  The  clergy  had  never  dreamed  of  his 
attendance,  and  not  being  assured  of  the  sup- 
port of  the  Regent,  they  pretended  some  in- 
formality in  the  call,  and  deserted  the  diet. 
On  the  very  day  on  which  he  had  been  sum- 
moned to  appear,  he  preached  in  the  Bishop  of 
Dunkeld's  lodging,  to  a  far  greater  audience 
than  had  before  attended  him  in  Edinburg. 
And  during  the  ten  following  days  he  preached 
in  the  same  place,  forenoon  and  afternoon; 
none  of  the  clergy  making  the  smallest  attempt 
to  disturb  him. 

About  this  time  the  Earl  Marishal,  at  the 
desire  of  the  Earl  of  Glencairn,  attended  one 
of  Knox's  evening  discourses,  and  was  so 
much  pleased,  that  he  united  with  the  Earl  of 
Glencairn  in  urging  him  to  write  a  letter  to 
the  Queen  Regent,  in  the  hope  that  she  might 
be  induced  to  protect  the  reformed  preachers. 
This  letter  is  characteristic  of  the  man,  and  is 
preserved,   exactly  as  written,   in  McCrie^s 


98  THE  LIFE  OF 

Life.  But  she  received  it  carelessly,  and 
after  glancing  over  it,  put  it  mto  the  hands  of 
the  archbishop  of  Glasgow  with  some  expres- 
sion of  contempt. 

While  Knox  was  thus  employed  in  Scot- 
land, he  received  letters  from  the  English  con- 
gregation at  Geneva,  stating,  that  they  had 
made  choice  of  him  as  one  of  their  pastors, 
and  urging  him  to  come  and  take  the  inspec- 
tion of  them.  With  this  call  he  thought  it  his 
duty  to  comply,  and  began  immediately  to 
prepare  for  the  journey.  His  wife  and  mo- 
ther-in-law had  by  this  time  joined  him  in 
Edinburg;  and  the  latter,  now  a  widow,  re- 
solved to  accompany  her  daughter  to  Geneva. 
Knox  after  sending  them  before  to  Dieppe, 
once  more  went  round  and  visited  his  friends 
at  his  several  preaching  places;  and  then,  in  the 
month  of  July,  1556,  left  Scotland,  and  arri- 
ving at  Dieppe  proceeded  with  his  family  to  Ge- 
neva, where  he  had  Goodman  for  his  colleague. 

No  sooner  had  Knox  left  Scotland,  than  his 
dastardly  enemies  renewed  their  summons, 
which  they  had  deserted  during  his  presence; 
and,  upon  his  non-appearance,  passed  sentence 
against  him,  adjudging  his  body  to  the  flames, 


JOHN  KNOX.  99 

and  his  soul  to  damnation.  As  his  person 
was  out  of  their  reach,  they  caused  his  effigy 
to  be  ignominiously  burnt,  at  the  cross  of 
Edinburg.  Against  this  sentence,  he  drew  up 
what  he  called  his  ''  Jijipellation^^  which  he 
afterwards  published,  with  a  supplication  and 
exhortation,  addressed  to  the  nobility  and 
commonalty  of  Scotland. 

The  doctrines  on  which  he  dwelt,  in  his 
preaching  in  Scotland,  on  this  occasion,  were, 
"That  there  was  no  other  name  by  which 
man  could  be  saved  but  the  name  of  Christ 
Jesus;  that  he  having,  by  his  own  sacrifice, 
sanctified  and.  reconciled  to  God,  those  who 
should  inherit  the  promised  kingdom,  all 
other  sacrifices,  which  men  pretended  to  ofier 
for  sin,  were  blasphemous;  that  all  men  ought 
to  hate  sin,  which  was  so  odious  in  the  sight  of 
God,  that  no  other  sacrifice  could  satisfy  for  it 
except  the  death  of  his  Son;  that  they  Ought 
to  magnify  their  heavenly  Father,  who  did  not 
spare  the  substance  of  his  glory,  but  gave  him 
up  to  sufier  the  ignominious  and  cruel  death 
of  the  cross,  for  lis;  and  that  those  who  were 
washed  from  their  former  sins  were  bound  to 
a  new  life,  fighting  against  the  lusts  of  the 


100  THE  LIFE  OF 

flesh,  and  studying  to  glorify  God  by  good 
works;  that  Christ  would  deny  and  be  ashamed 
of  those,  who  should  deny  and  be  ashamed  of 
him  and  his  works,  before  a  wicked  generation; 
that  it  was  incumbent  on  those  who  hoped  for 
everlasting  life,  to  avoid  idolatry,  superstition, 
and  all  vain  religion;  in  short,  all  worship 
destitute  of  the  authority  of  God's  word,"  &c. 
These  were  the  doctrines  which  were  by  his 
enemies  pronounced  heretical,  and  damnable; 
and,  on  account  of  which,  they  had  denounced 
against  him  the  sentence  of  death,  from  which 
sentence  he  had  appealed  to  a  general  council, 
to  be  held  agreeably  to  ancient  laws  and  canons; 
humbly  requesting  the  nobility  and  commons 
of  Scotland,  until  such  time  as  their  controver- 
sies were  decided,  to  take  him  and  others 
accused  and  persecuted,  under  their  protection. 
This  visit,  of  our  reformer,  to  his  native 
land,  was  of  unspeakable  importance.  On  this 
occasion,  he  laid  the  foundations  of  that  noble 
edifice,  which  he  was  afterwards  instrumental 
in  rearing.  Some  may  blame  him  for  leaving 
such  an  interesting  field  of  labour;  but  he  was 
guided  by  a  wisdom  superior  to  that  of  man. 
His  absence  was  now  no  less  conducive  to  the 


JOHN  KNOX.  101 

preservation  of  the  cause,  than  his  presence 
and  personal  labour,  had  recently  been.  Mat- 
ters were  not  yet  ripe  for  a  general  reformation 
in  Scotland;  and  the  clergy  would  never  have 
suffered  so  zealous  and  able  a  champion  of  the 
new  doctrines  to  live  in  the  country.  By 
seasonably  retiring,  he  not  only  preserved  his 
own  life,  but  averted  the  storm  of  persecution 
from  the  heads  of  his  brethren.  Deprived  of 
their  leaders,  their  enemies  became  less  jealous 
of  them,  and  they  were  permitted  to  carry  on 
their  private  meetings  without  observation; 
by  which  means  they  were  able  to  edify  and 
confirm  one  another  in  the  truth  which  they 
had  embraced.  Before  taking  his  leave,  Knox 
was  careful  to  leave  particular  instructions  for 
the  brethren,  which  he  not  only  communicated 
orally,  but  left  in  writing,  in  the  form  of  a  letter; 
in  which  he  warmly  recommended  the  exer- 
cises of  worship  and  religious  instruction  to  be 
kept  up  in  every  family.  And  he  advised, 
that  those  of  different  families,  in  the  same 
vicinity,  should  get  together,  if  possible,  once 
a  week;  that  in  these  meetings,  they  should 
begin  with  the  confession  of  sin,  and  invoca- 
tion of  the  divine  blessing;  that  a  portion  of 

10 


102  THE  LIFE  OF 

Scripture  should  be  read,  after  which  liberty 
might  be  given,  if  any  brother  had  a  word  of 
exhortation,  interpretation,  or  query,  to  speak; 
but  this  ought  to  be  done  with  modesty,  and  a 
desire  to  edify,  or  be  edified;  multiplication  of 
words  perplexed  interpretation,  and  wilfulness 
in  reasoning,  to  be  carefully  avoided.  He 
advised  that  such  difficulties  as  they  were 
unable  to  solve,  they  should  write  down,  and 
submit  them  to  the  judgment  of  the  learned. 
He  signified  his  own  readiness  to  give  them 
advice,  and  recommended  that  all  their  meet- 
ings should  be  closed,  as  well  as  opened,  with 
prayer.  These  directions,  there  is  reason  to 
believe,  were  punctually  complied  with.  This 
letter,  therefore,  may  be  considered  as  an  im- 
portant document,  in  the  history  of  the  Re- 
formation in  Scotland;  and  may  be  read  entire 
in  the  appendix  to  M'Crie's  History  of  John 
Knox. 

Knox  reached  Geneva  before  the  end  of  har- 
vest, and  took  upon  him  the  charge  of  the 
English  congregation,  residing  in  that  city; 
among  whom  he  laboured  the  two  following 
years.  This  was  undoubtedly  the  most  quiet 
period  of  his  life.     In  the  bosom  of  his  own 


JOHN  KNOX.  103 

family,  he  experienced  that  soothing  care  to 
which  he  had  hitherto  been  a  stranger,  and 
which  his  frequent  bodily  ailment  required. 
And  he  had  the  happiness  of  administering  to 
a  flock  who  had  the  strongest  affection  for  him, 
and  the  greatest  cordiality  among  themselves. 
With  his  colleague,  Christopher  Goodman,  he 
lived  as  a  brother,  and  was  favoured  with  the 
friendship  of  Calvin,  and  the  other  pastors  of 
Geneva. 

So  much  was  Knox  pleased  with  the  purity 
of  religion  as  established  in  that  city,  that  he 
warmly  recommended  it  to  his  religious  ac- 
quaintances in  England,  as  the  best  Christian 
asylum  to  which  they  could  flee.  In  a  letter 
to  his  friend  Locke,  in  London,  he  writes,  "  In 
my  heart  I  could  wish,  yea,  and  cannot  cease 
to  wish,  that  it  might  please  God,  to  guide  and 
conduct  you  to  this  place,  where,  I  am  neither 
afraid  nor  ashamed  to  say,  is  the  most  perfect 
school  of  Christ  that  ever  was  upon  earth,  since 
the  days  of  the  apostles.  In  other  places  I 
confess  Christ  to  be  truly  preached;  but  man- 
ners and  religion  to  be  so  sincerely  reformed, 
I  have  not  yet  seen  in  any  other  place.^' 

But  neither  the  enjoyment  of  personal  ac- 


104  THE  LIFE  OP 

commodations,  the  pleasures  of  Christian  and 
literary  society,  nor  the  endearments  of  do- 
mestic happiness,  could  subdue  our  reformer's 
ruling  passion,  or  change  his  determination  to 
return  to  Scotland  as  soon  as  an  opportunity 
should  offer,  for  advancing  the  reformation 
among  his  countrymen.  In  a  letter  written 
March  16,  1557,  we  find  him  expressing  him- 
self thus:  "  My  own  motion  and  daily  prayer 
is,  not  only  that  I  may  visit  you,  but  also  that 
I  may  with  joy,  end  my  battle  among  you. 
And  assure  yourself  of  this,  that  whenever 
greater  numbers  among  you  shall  call  upon 
me,  than  now  hath  bound  me  to  serve  them, 
by  his  grace  it  shall  not  be  fear  of  punishment, 
nor  of  temporal  death,  that  shall  impede  my 
coming  to  you."  A  certain  heroical  confi- 
dence and  assurance  of  ultimate  success,  have 
often  been  displayed  by  those  whom  Provi- 
dence has  raised  up  to  achieve  great  revolutions 
in  the  world;  by  which  they  have  been  borne 
up  under  discouragements  which  would  have 
overwhelmed  men  of  ordinary  spirits,  and  em- 
boldened them  to  face  dangers,  from  which 
others  would  have  shrunk  appalled.  This 
enthusiastic  heroism,  often  blazed  forth  in  the 


JOHN  KNOX.  105 

conduct  of  the  great  German  reformer.  Knox 
possessed  no  inconsiderable  degree  of  the  same 
spirit.  *^  Satan,  I  confess,"  says  he,  in  one  of 
his  letters,  "  rageth,  but  potent  is  he  that  pro- 
mised to  be  with  us  in  all  such  enterprises,  as 
we  take  in  hand,  at  his  commandment,  for  the 
glory  of  his  name  and  the  maintenance  of  the 
true  religion.  And,  therefore,  the  less  fear 
we  any  contrary  power;  yea,  in  the  boldness 
of  our  God,  we  altogether  contemn  them,  be 
they  kings,  emperors,  men,  angels,  or  devils. 
For  they  shall  be  never  able  to  prevail  against 
the  simple  truth  of  God,  which  we  openly 
profess.  By  the  permission  of  God,  they  may 
appear  to  prevail  against  our  bodies,  but  our 
spirits  shall  triumph,  in  despite  of  Satan." 

Soon  after  Knox  had  written  the  letter,  last 
quoted  but  one,  James  Syme,  who  had  been 
his  host,  at  Edinburg,  and  James  Barron, 
arrived  at  Geneva,  with  a  letter  from  the 
earl  of  Glencairn,  and  lords  Lorn,  Erskine, 
and  James  Stewart,  informing  him,  that  those 
who  had  professed  the  Reformed  doctrine,  re- 
mained steadfast;  that  his  adversaries  were 
daily  losing  credit  in  the  nation,  and  that  those 
who  possessed  the  supreme  authority,  although 

10* 


106  THE  LIFE  OF 

they  had  not  yet  declared  themselves  friendly, 
still  refrained  from  persecution ;  and  inviting 
him  in  their  own  name,  and  in  that  of  their 
brethren,  to  return  to  Scotland,  where  he 
would  find  them  all  ready  to  receive  him,  and 
to  spend  their  lives  and  fortunes  in  advancing 
the  cause  which  they  had  espoused. 


PERIOD    V. 

FROM  HIS  INVITATION  INTO  SCOTLAND,  1557,  TO  HIS  SETTLK- 
MENT  AS  MINISTER  OF  EDINBURG,  UPON  THE  ESTABLISHMENT 
OF  THE  REFORMATION,  IN  1560. 

After  consultation  with  Calvin,  and  laying 
the  whole  matter  before  his  congregation,  and 
obtaining  their  consent  to  part  with  him, 
Knox  set  ofi*  for  Dieppe,  on  his  way  to  Scot- 
land ;  but  when  he  arrived  at  that  place,  he 
received  other  letters  of  rather  a  discouraging 
nature,  informing  him  that  after  forwarding 
the  invitation  which  he  had  received,  some  of 
his  friends  seemed  rather  to  repent,  and  that 
the  greater  part  appeared  irresolute  and  faint- 
hearted. This  intelligence  greatly  disconcert- 
ed him,  for  he  had  left  his  family  in  Geneva, 


JOHN   KNOX.  107 

unprovided  for,  and  had  resigned  his  pastoral 
charge  into  the  hands  of  another.  He  imme- 
diately wrote  a  letter  to  the  noblemen  of  Scot- 
land, by  whom  he  had  been  invited,  in  which 
he  expostulated  with  them,  in  strong  and 
pathetic  language,  representing  to  them,  the 
shame  and  reproach  which  must  necessarily  be 
the  consequence  of  his  abandoning  his  journey, 
and  returning  after  having  advised  with  the 
learned  and  good,  and  after  having  so  publicly 
^•md  solemnly  taken  leave  of  his  friends  in 
Geneva.  After  forwarding  his  letters  to  Scot- 
land, he  determined  to  spend  some  time  in 
the  interior  of  France,  hoping  to  receive  more 
favourable  accounts  from  Scotland.  The  re- 
formed religion  had  already  been  introduced 
into  the  kingdom  of  France,  and  had  already 
been  watered  with  the  blood  of  many  martyrs; 
but  all  the  violence  which  had  been  exercised, 
had  not  been  able  to  extirpate  it,  or  prevent  it 
from  spreading  among  all  ranks.  At  this 
very  time,  the  Protestants  of  Paris  were  suf- 
fering under  the  effects  of  one  of  those  massa- 
cres, which  so  often  disgraced  the  Roman 
Catholic  religion  in  that  country;  and  not  con- 
tented with  pursuing  them  in  their  peaceable 


108  THE  LIFE  OF 

meetings  for  retired  worship,  and  treating 
them  with  great  barbarity,  in  imitation  of  the 
Pagan  persecutors  of  the  primitive  Christians, 
they  invented  the  foulest  calumnies  against 
them:  against  which  the  Protestants  publish- 
lished  a  vindication,  or  apology,  which  Knox 
translated  into  English,  and  wrote  a  preface  to 
accompany  it. 

As  he  passed  through  France,  he  preached 
in  several  places  to  the  Protestants  having  ac- 
quired the  French  language  so  perfectly  as  to 
be  able  to  preach  in  it. 

Having  received  no  intelligence,  of  a  fa- 
vourable kind,  from  Scotland,  Knox  judged  it 
expedient  to  relinquish  his  journey  for  the 
present.  This  resolution  does  not  accord  with 
the  usual  firmness  of  the  man  ;  for  the  invita- 
tion of  the  nobles  had  not  been  withdrawn ; 
but  we  are  not  possessed  of  all  the  reasons  and 
motives  which  influenced  him  on  this  occa- 
sion. It  appears,  however,  that  the  apprehen- 
sion of  the  turmoil  and  civil  discord,  which 
must  necessarily  attend  the  enterprise  of  at- 
tempting to  introduce  the  Reformation  into 
Scotland,  did,  at  this  time,  produce  an  undue 
influence  on  his  mind  ;  and  for  his  want  of 


JOHN  KNOX.  109 

resolution  and  perseverance  on  this  occasion, 
he  afterwards  bitterly  censured  himself.  But 
whatever  blame  he  felt  that  he  deserved,  noth- 
ing is  more  evident,  than  that  his  course  was 
now  wisely  directed  by  divine  Providence,  so 
that  impediments  were  thrown  in  his  way 
from  without,  and  unwonted  discouragement 
was  permitted  to  affect  his  mind,  in  order  that 
his  return  might  be  protracted  to  a  period  be- 
fore which  it  might  have  been  injurious. 
And  thus  his  arrival  in  Scotland,  was  ordered 
to  take  place,  when  it  was  calculated  to  be  in 
the  highest  degree  useful  to  the  great  cause 
which  he  had  at  heart. 

After  having  made  up  his  mind  to  return 
to  Geneva,  he  transmitted  two  long  letters  to 
Scotland  ;  the  one  addressed  to  the  Protes- 
tants in  general,  and  the  other  to  the  nobles ; 
both  dated  in  December,  1557.  In  these  let- 
ters he  made  no  mention  of  his  recent  disap- 
pointment, but  gave  them  his  advice  respect- 
ing many  points,  and  also  conveyed  to  them  in 
this  way,  the  opinions  of  the  learned  divines 
with  whom  he  was  conversant,  respecting  dif- 
ficult cases  on  which  they  wished  for  counsel. 
He  also  exhorted  them  to  constancy  and  per- 


110  THE  LIFE  OF 

severance,  in  the  good  cause  which  they  had 
undertaken.  Besides,  he  strongly  inculcated 
purity  of  morals,  and  warned  all  who  professed 
the  reformed  religion  against  those  irregulari- 
ties of  life  which  so  much  tended  to  bring 
reproach  upon  their  profession.  And  he  par- 
ticularly warned  them  against  the  new  sect  of 
Anabaptists,  who  gave  so  much  trouble  to  the 
reformers  in  Germany  and  Switzerland,  and 
who  were  now  creeping  into  Scotland.  The 
radical  error  of  this  sect,  at  this  period,  when 
they  had  thrown  off  some  of  the  grosser  errors 
which  first  marked  their  course,  was  a  fond 
conceit  of  a  certain  ideal  perfection  and  spirit- 
uality which  belonged  to  Christians  and  the 
Christian  Church,  by  which  they  differed  es- 
sentially, and  toto  coelo  from  the  Jewish 
Church,  which  they  looked  upon  as  a  carnal 
and  worldly  society.  This  led  them  to  slight 
the  Old  Testament,  and  confine  themselves 
almost  exclusively  to  .the  New.  They  were 
also  generally  infected  with  Arian  and  Pela- 
gian errors,  and  were  great  enemies  to  the 
doctrines  of  predestination  and  grace,  as  held 
by  the  reformers.  They  also  held  some  pecu- 
liar opinions  respecting  the  flesh  of  Christ,  as 


JOHN  KNOX.  Ill 

not  having  been  derived  from  his  mother,  but 
brought  from  Heaven,  and  also  respecting 
civil  magistrates. 

His  letter  to  the  Protestant  Lords  breathes 
a  spirit  of  ardent  and  noble  piety.  He  endea- 
voured to  purify  their  minds  from  selfish  and 
worldly  principles;  to  raise,  sanctify,  and 
Christianize  their  motives,  by  exhibiting  and 
recommending  to  them  the  spirit  and  conduct 
of  the  princes  and  heroes,  celebrated,  not  in 
profane,  but  sacred  story.  He  taught  them 
that  the  glory  of  God,  the  advancement  of  the 
kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  salvation  of  them- 
selves and  their  brethren,  and  the  emancipa- 
tion of  their  country  from  spiritual  and  civil 
thraldom,  and  not  their  own  honour  and  ag- 
grandizement, ought  to  be  the  objects  aimed 
at  by  them.  He  also  discussed,  in  this  letter, 
the  delicate  question  of  the  right  in  certain 
circumstances,  of  resistance  to  supreme  rulers. 
It  seems  that  they  had  consulted  him  on  this 
point,  and  requested  him  to  obtain  also  the 
judgment  of  the  learned  on  the  continent, 
which  he  had  done,  and  now  communicated 
their  common  judgment.  The  opinion  which 
he   delivered   to   them,   was,  that  there  was 


112  THE  LIFE  OF 

a  point  beyond  which  obedience  to  earthly 
rulers  was  no  longer  obligatory,  and  when 
resistance  became  a  duty;  but  he  warned  them 
against  a  factious  and  rebellious  spirit,  to  which 
the  Scottish  nation  had  been  too  much  inclined. 
He  exhorted  them  to  yield  a  dutiful  and  cheer- 
ful obedience  to  all  lawful  commands;  and  by 
humble  and  repeated  requests,  to  endeavour  to 
recommend  themselves  to  the  supreme  autho- 
rity, and  to  procure  its  favour  in  promoting, 
at  least  not  persecuting,  the  cause  in  which 
they  were  embarked.  But  if  all  their  efforts 
should  prove  ineffectual,  and  the  Regent  re- 
fused to  consent  to  a  public  reformation,  they 
ought  to  provide,  that  the  Gospel  should  be 
preached  and  the  sacraments  administered  to 
themselves  and  their  brethren;  and  if  attempts 
were  made  to  crush  them  by  tyrannical  force, 
it  was  lawful  for  them,  nay  it  was  a  duty  in- 
cumbent on  them  in  their  high  station,  to 
stand  up  in  defence  of  their  brethren. 

Knox  returned  to  Geneva  at  the  close  of  the 
year  1557.  During  the  following  year  he  was 
engaged  with  some  other  learned  men  in  trans- 
lating the  Holy  Scriptures  into  English,  which 
version,  from  the  place  where  it  was  made. 


JOHN    KNOX.  113 

obtained  the  name  of  "  The  Geneva  Bible.'^ 
It  was  at  this  tinie  also,  that  he  published  his 
"  Appellation"  and  his  "  Exhortation,"  and 
also  his  "letter  to  the  Queen  Regent."  These 
several  publications  were  widely  circulated 
and  had  a  powerful  effect  in  promoting  the 
Reformation.  But  the  most  singular  treatise 
which  Knox  published  this  year,  and  that 
which  made  the  greatest  noise,  was  entitled 
"  The  First  Blast  of  the  Trumpet  against 
the  monstrous  regiment  of  Women;^^  in 
which  he  attacked  with  great  vehemence,  the 
practice  of  admitting  females  to  the  govern- 
ment of  nations.  It  is  probable  that  these  sen- 
timents had  occupied  his  mind  from  the  acces- 
sion of  Queen  Mary  to  the  throne  of  England; 
and  this  was  probably  one  of  the  points  on 
which  he  consulted  the  Swiss  divines  in  1554. 
It  is  certain,  from  a  letter  written  in  1556, 
that  his  opinions  were  then  fixed  and  decided. 
He  continued,  however,  to  keep  them  to  him- 
self, and  for  a  considerable  time  refrained  from 
publishing  them  out  of  deference  to  the  opin- 
ions of  others.  His  arguments  need  not  now 
be  detailed;  and  they  were  not  peculiar  to 
Knox.     He  could  appeal  not  only  to  the  free 

U 


114  THE  LIFE  OF 

states  of  antiquity,  but  also  to  the  established  law 
of  France,  by  which  females  are  excluded  from 
the  throne.  And  it  is  said,  that  Edward  VI., 
shortly  before  his  decease,  proposed  to  the 
Privy  Council  to  have  this  law  introduced  into 
England.  This  publication,  whatever  may  be 
said  of  its  theoretical  principles,  not  only 
failed  to  produce  any  eflfect,  but  exposed  the 
author  to  the  resentment  of  two  Queens,  du- 
ring whose  reign  it  was  his  lot  to  live;  the  one 
his  native  Princess,  and  the  other  exercising  a 
sway  in  Scotland  scarcely  inferior  to  that  of 
any  of  its  monarchs.  And  what  rendered  the 
publication  more  unfortunate,  was,  that  Mary, 
against  whom  it  was  particularly  directed,  died 
soon  after  it  saw  the  light,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Elizabeth,  a  Protestant.  As  might  have 
been  expected,  a  great  outcry  was  raised 
against  the  work,  and  it  gave  offence  to  many 
of  the  zealous  friends  of  the  Reformation. 
John  Fox  wrote  a  letter  to  the  author,  in 
which  he  expostulated  with  him  in  a  very 
friendly  manner  on  account  of  the  impropriety 
of  the  publication,  and  especially  the  severity 
of  its  language.  Knox,  in  his  reply,  did  not 
attempt  to  excuse  the  harsh  expressions  which 


JOHN    KNOX.  115 

he  had  used,  but  still  insisted  on  the  correct- 
ness of  his  opinions.  It  was  his  original  inten- 
tion to  have  given  three  blasts  of  the  trumpet, 
and  to  have  prefixed  his  name  to  the  last;  but 
when  Elizabeth  succeeded  to  the  throne,  wish- 
ing rather  to  strengthen  than  invalidate  her 
authority,  he  relinquished  his  purpose.  He 
retained  his  sentiments,  however,  to  the  last, 
although  he  thought  it  expedient  to  make  no 
further  publication  of  them.  The  question 
has  lost  ail  its  interest  in  modern  times,  and 
seems  more  fitly  to  be  a  question  for  politi- 
cians than  theologians.  It  may  be  proper, 
however,  to  remark  before  dismissing  the  sub- 
ject, that  a  defence  of  the  right  of  females  to 
rule,  was  written  by  Aylmer,  entitled  "  Har- 
borowe  for  faithful  subjects."  This  was  in- 
tended as  an^answer  to  Knox,  and  was  written 
with  much  care;  whereas  Knox's  treatise  was 
evidently  written  in  haste,  and  the  copies 
commonly  published  with  his  history  are  very 
inaccurate. 

Knox's  letter  to  the  Protestant  lords  in 
Scotland,  produced  its  intended  effect,  in  re- 
animating their  drooping  courage.  At  a 
meeting    held    in    Edinburg,   in    December, 


116  THE  LIFE  OF 

1557,  they  unanimously  resolved  to  adhere  to 
one  another,  and  exert  themselves  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  Reformation.  Havingsubscri- 
bed  a  solemn  bond  of  mutual  assurance,  they 
renewed  their  invitation  to  Knox;  and,  afraid 
that  he  might  hesitate,  in  consequence  of  their 
former  irresolution,  they  wrote  to  Calvin,  to 
employ  his  influence  to  induce  him  to  comply. 
These  letters  did  not  reach  Geneva  until  No- 
vember, 1558.  By  the  same  conveyance, 
Knox  received  from  Scotland  letters  of  a  later 
date,  communicating  the  most  favourable  in- 
telligence respecting  the  progress  the  Refor- 
mation had  made,  and  the  flourishing  appearance 
which  it  continued  to  wear.  In  consequence 
of  Knox's  labours  in  1556,  and  in  pursuance 
of  his  advice,  many  small  congregations  were 
formed,  in  various  places,  who  met  together 
weekly  for  mutual  instruction  and  encourage- 
ment. Having  no  ordained  ministers,  they 
could  not  have  the  sacraments  administered 
among  them,  but  they  appointed  some  of  their 
most  grave  and  intelligent  men  to  read  the 
Scriptures,  exhort,  and  ofier  up  suitable  praj^- 
ers,  in  their  assemblies.  Wishing,  however, 
to  have  their  congregations  to  proceed  in  an 


JOHN  KNOX.  X17 

orderly  manner,  and  to  maintain  discipline, 
they  proceeded  to  appoint  ruling  elders,  to 
exercise  a  supervision  over  them,  to  whom 
they  promised  subjection  in  the  Lord.  They 
also  appointed  deacons,  for  the  collection  and 
distribution  of  alms  for  the  assistance  of  the 
poor.  Edinburg  was  the  first  place  in  which 
this  order  was  established;  but  Dundee  was 
the  first  place,  in  Scotland,  in  which  a  reformed 
church  was  completely  organized,  by  being 
provided  with  a  regular  minister,  and  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  sacraments. 

When  the  violence  of  the  persecution  had 
been  suspended,  by  reason  of  the  war  in  which 
England  was  engaged,  many  who  had  fled  to 
the  continent  returned;  among  these  were 
William  Harlow,  John  Douglass,  Paul  Meth- 
ven,  and  John  Willock,  who  had  taken  re- 
fuge in  Embden,  but  now  returned  to  Scotland. 
These  now  resumed  their  evangelical  labours. 
The  popish  clergy,  however,  were  not  wanting 
in  zeal  and  activity  to  obstruct  their  progress, 
and  applied  to  the  Queen  Regent,  to  summon 
the  Protestant  preachers;  but  by  the  interpo- 
sition of  the  gentlemen  of  the  west  country, 
*^^he  prosecution  against  them  was  relinquished. 

11* 


118  THE  LIFE  OF 

At  length  the  clergy  resolved  to  renew  the 
cruel  measures  which  had  been  suspended, 
since  1550,  and,  accordingly,  a  beginning  was 
made,  by  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrews  com- 
mitting to  the  flames  an  aged  priest,  by  the 
name  of  Walter  Milne,  a  man  of  the  most 
inoffensive  manners;  and  others  were  sum- 
moned to  appear  before  a  convention  of  the 
clergy  at  Edinburg.  The  barbarous  and  ille- 
gal execution  of  Milne,  excited  the  horror  of 
the  nation  to  an  incredible  pitch;  and,  as  it 
was  believed  that  the  regent  was  not  accessary 
to  the  deed,  the  public  indignation  was  direct- 
ed entirely  against  the  clergy. 

The  people  attached  to  the  Protestant  cause, 
who  had  before  held  their  m.eetings  in  secret, 
now,  laying  aside  all  fear,  assembled  publicly, 
and  avowed  their  attachment  to  the  reformed 
religion .  They  also,  in  a  respectful  and  formal 
manner,  laid  their  complaint  before  the  Regent, 
and  earnestly  petitioned  that  she  would,  by 
the  exercise  of  her  authority  and  in  concur- 
rence with  the  parliament,  restrain  the  tyran- 
nical proceedings  of  the  clergy;  correct  the 
flagrant  and  intolerable  abuses  which  prevailed 
in  the  church,  and   grant  to  them   and  their 


JOHN  KNOX.  119 

brethren,  the  liberty  of  religious  instruction 
and  worship;  at  least,  according  to  a  restricted 
plan  which  they  laid  before  her,  and  to  which 
they  were  willing  to  submit,  until  their  griev- 
ances were  deliberately  examined  and  redress- 
ed. The  reply  of  the  Regent  was  as  favourable 
as  they  could  expect;  for  she  assured  them  of 
her  protection,  as  soon  as  it  should  be  in  her 
power  to  grant  it. 

Knox  was  not  long  in  coming  to  a  conclu- 
sion to  comply  with  the  pressing  invitation  he 
had  received  to  return  to  his  native  country; 
but  the  affairs  of  the  congregation  which  he 
had  served  in  Geneva,  required  his  attention 
for  some  time.  In  the  meanwhile  intelligence 
was  received  of  the  death  of  queen  Mary,  and 
the  exiles  prepared  to  return  home.  By  them 
Knox  sent  letters  to  some  of  his  former  ac- 
quaintances, who  were  now  in  the  court  of 
Elizabeth,  requesting  permission  to  travel 
through  England,  on  his  way  to  Scotland. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1559,  he  left  Ge- 
neva for  the  last  time.  When  about  to  leave 
the  city,  the  republic,  as  a  testimony  of  their 
respect,  conferred  on  him  the  freedom  of  their 
city.     He  thought  it  prudent  not  to  take  his 


120  THE  LIFE  OF 

^vife  and  family  with  him,  but  to  go  alone, 
that  he  might  make  preparation  for  them,  if 
no  obstacle  stood  in  the  way  of  their  return. 

To  his  surprise  and  mortification,  when  he 
arrived  at  Dieppe,  he  received  intelligence 
that  the  government  of  the  new  Queen  had 
absolutely  refused  him  a  passage  through  Eng- 
land; and  so  fierce  was  the  opposition  to  him, 
that  with  difficulty  they  who  presented  the 
request  escaped  imprisonment.  This  was  en- 
tirely owing  to  some  of  the  exiles,  who  had  not 
forgotten  the  old  quarrel  at  Frankfort,  and 
who  accused  of  disloyalty,  not  only  Knox,  but 
all  who  had  been  under  his  charge  at  Geneva; 
and  they  availed  themselves,  especially,  of 
what  he  had  published  respecting  female  go- 
vernment. Though  Knox's  book  had  been 
written  without  the  least  reference  to  Eliza- 
beth, yet,  as  its  principles  applied  as  much  to 
her  as  to  her  sister,  it  was  not  difficult  to  pre- 
judice her  mind  strongly  against  Knox  and  all 
his  congregation.  This  refusal,  and  the  harsh 
treatment  of  his  flock,  touched  to  the  quick 
the  irritable  mind  of  our  reformer,  and  it 
caused  him  a  severe  struggle  to  suppress  a 
desire  to   renew  the  controversy,  which  he 


JOHN  KNOX.  121 

had  resolved  to  abandon.  But  happily  his 
mind  was  occupied  with  matters  of  a  nobler 
kind.  His  object,  in  wishing  to  visit  England, 
was  not  of  a  selfish,  nor,  indeed,  of  a  personal 
kind ;  for  although  he  desired  to  see  his  old 
acquaintances,  yet  his  chief  motive  was  to  gain 
accurate  information,  before  he  went  to  Scot- 
land, of  the  real  disposition  of  the  Queen  Regent 
of  that  country.  He  had  been  led  to  entertain 
strong  suspicions,  that  her  professions  of  favour 
to  the  Protestants  were  not  sincere;  and  these 
suspicions  were  greatly  confirmed  by  what  he 
heard  in  his  journey  through  France.  By 
conversing  with  some  persons  acquainted  with 
the  secret  plans  of  the  court,  he  learned  that 
the  princes  of  Lorrain,  brothers  of  the  Queen 
Regent,  had  nothing  less  in  view  than  to  setup 
a  claim  to  the  crown  of  England,  in  favour  of 
the  young  queen  of  Scots;  to  attack  Elizabeth, 
and  expel  her  from  the  throne  as  an  illegitimate 
child  and  as  a  heretic;  and,  as  Scotland  was 
the  only  avenue  through  which  they  could 
successfully  attack  England,  it  was  a  part  of 
their  plan  to  begin  by  suppressing  the  Refor- 
mation, and  establishing  their  power  in  that 
country.     Knox  was  alarmed  at  this  informa- 


122  THE  LIFE  OF 

lion,  for  he  was  convinced  that  the  reformers 
of  Scotland  were  wholly  unable  to  resist  the 
powerof  France,  if  it  should  be  directed  against 
them;  and,  as  it  was  the  duty  and  interest  of 
the  English  court  to  afford  them  effectual  sup- 
port, he  was  anxious  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
court  to  this  subject,  in  season,  to  thwart  the 
deep  laid  scheme  of  ruin,  which  had  been  con- 
trived against  the  government  of  that  country. 
And,  in  fact,  the  very  policy  which  he  wished 
to  suggest  to  the  English  court,  was  wisely 
pursued  by  Elizabeth  in  the  assistance  which 
she  afforded  to  the  Scottish  Protestants,  in 
1559  and  1560. 

Knox  having  already  received  two  repulses 
to  his  application  to  visit  England,  yet  was 
so  impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  in- 
telligence which  he  wished  to  communicate, 
that  he  ventured  to  make  a  third  application, 
by  writing  a  letter  to  secretary  Cecil,  in  which 
he  took  pains  to  exculpate  his  Geneva  friends 
from  all  participation  in  the  sentiments  of  his 
offensive  book.  He  acknowledged  that  he 
was  its  author,  but  solemnly  averred  that  he 
entertained  no  unfriendly  feelings  towards 
Elizabeth,  but  the  contrary  j  and  that  he  had 


JOHN  KNOX.  123 

no  desire  to  visit  the  court,  nor  to  remain 
long  in  the  country  ;  but  that  he  was  desirous 
to  communicate  to  him,  or  some  other  trusty 
person,  matters  of  importance,  which  it  was 
not  prudent  to  commit  to  writing,  nor  to  en- 
trust to  an  ordinary  messenger.  That  if  his 
request  was  refused,  it  would  turn  out  to  the 
disadvantage  of  England.  This  letter  he  found 
it  difficult  to  get  a  messenger  to  carry,  so 
strong  was  the  prejudice  in  the  English  court 
against  him.  Whether  despairing  of  success 
in  his  application,  or  influenced  by  intelligence 
from  Scotland,  he  sailed  from  Dieppe  and 
landed  at  Leith,  in  the  beginning  of  May, 
1559. 

Upon  his  arrival  in  Scotland,  he  found  mat- 
ters in  the  most  critical  state.  The  Queen 
Regent  had  thrown  aside  the  disguise,  which 
she  had  so  long  worn  with  the  most  consum- 
mate duplicity.  As  long  as  it  was  for  her 
purpose,  she  listened  to  all  the  plans  of  re- 
form, and  by  flattering  the  leaders,  and  pro- 
mising them  protection  and  support,  she  had 
been  able  to  govern  them,  according  to  her 
wishes.  But  now,  disguise  being  no  longer 
necessary,  she  threw  ofl"  the  mask,  and  told 


124  THE  LIFE  OF 

them,  "  that  they  should  all  be  banished  from 
Scotland ;  although  they  preached  as  truly  as 
ever  Paul  did."  And  when  they  reminded 
her  of  her  repeated  promises  of  protection, 
she  unblushingly  replied,  "  that  it  became  not 
subjects  to  burden  their  princes  with  promises, 
further  than  they  pleased  to  keep  them." 
The  Protestant  leaders  spoke  plainly  to  her, 
and  alleged,  that  if  the  engagements  of  rulers 
were  not  binding  on  them,  of  course  the  sub- 
ject ought  to  be  considered,  as  released  from 
his  allegiance.  They  also  warned  her  of  the 
consequence  which  would  ensue,  if  she  per- 
sisted in  the  course  now  adopted.  Upon  which 
she  used  milder  language,  and  engaged  to  pre- 
vent the  trial  of  the  preachers,  who  were 
under  civil  process.  But  upon  hearing  that 
the  reformed  religion  had  been  introduced 
into  Perth,  she  renewed  the  process,  and  sum- 
moned them  all  to  appear  at  Stirling,  on  the 
tenth  of  May,  to  undergo  a  trial. 

Knox  on  finding  the  state  of  affairs,  although 
prejudged,  and  sentence  already  pronounced 
against  him,  yet  determined  to  appear  at  Stir- 
ling, on  the  day  appointed  for  the  trial. 
Having   rested   only   a   single  day  at  Edin- 


JOHN  KNOX.  125 

burg,  he  hurried  to  Dundee,  where  he  found 
the  principal  Protestants  of  Angus  and  Mearns 
already  assembled,  determined  to  attend  the 
ministers  to  the  place  of  trial,  and  to  avow 
their  adherence  to  the  doctrines  for  which 
they  were  accused.  The  providential  arrival 
of  such  an  able  champion  of  the  cause,  at  this 
crisis,  must  have  been  very  encouraging  to 
the  assembly ;  and  the  liberty  of  accompany- 
ing them  which  he  requested,  was  readily 
granted. 

Lest  the  unexpected  approach  of  such  a 
multitude,  though  unarmed,  should  alarm  or 
oflfend  the  Regent,  the  congregation  (for  so 
the  Protestants  at  this  time  began  to  be  called) 
agreed  to  stop  at  Perth,  and  sent  Erskine  of 
Dun  before  them  to  Stirling,  to  acquaint  her 
with  the  peaceable  object  and  manner  of  their 
coming.  Apprehensive  that  their  presence 
would  disconcert  her  measures,  she  again  had 
recourse  to  dissimulation.  She  persuaded 
Erskine  to  write  to  his  brethren  to  desist  from 
their  journey,  and  authorized  him  to  say  in 
her  name,  that  she  would  put  a  stop  to  the 
trial.  The  congregation  signified  their  pacific 
intentions  by  a  cheerful  compliance  with  this 

12 


126  THE  LIFE  OF 

request,  and  the  greater  part,  confiding  in  the 
royal  promise,  returned  home.  But  when 
the  day  of  trial  came,  the  summons  was  called 
by  order  of  the  Queen,  the  accused  were  out- 
lawed for  not  appearing,  and  all  were  prohi- 
bited, under  pain  of  rebellion,  from  harbouring 
or  assisting  them. 

Escaping  from  Stirling,  Erskine  brought  to 
Perth  the  account  of  this  disgraceful  transaction ; 
which  could  not  fail  to  incense  the  Protestants. 
On  the  very  day  on  which  the  intelligence 
arrived,  Knox  preached  a  sermon  at  Perth^ 
against  the  idolatry  of  the  mass,  and  of  image 
worship.  Sermon  being  ended,  and  the  au- 
dience dismissed,  a  few  idle  persons  still  loit- 
ered in  the  church,  when  an  imprudent  priest, 
either  to  try  the  disposition  of  the  people,  or 
in  contempt  of  the  doctrine  Vv^hich  had  been 
preached,  uncovered  a  rich  altar-piece,  deco- 
rated with  images,  and  prepared  to  celebrate 
mass.  A  boy,  having  expressed  some  words 
of  disapprobation,  was  struck  by  the  priest. 
He  retaliated  by  throwing  a  stone  at  the  ag- 
gressor, which,  falling  on  the  altar,  broke  one 
of  the  images.  This  operated  as  a  signal  to 
the  people  present,  who  had  taken  part  with 


JOHN  KNOX.  127 

the  boy;  and  in  a  few  minutes,  the  altar, 
images,  and  all  the  ornaments  of  the  church, 
were  torn  down  and  trampled  under  foot. 
The  noise  soon  collected  a  mob,  who  finding 
no  employment  in  the  church,  by  a  sudden 
and  irresistible  influence,  flew  upon  the  mon- 
asteries; nor  could  they  be  restrained  by  the 
authority  of  the  magistrates,  nor  the  persua- 
sion of  the  preachers  (who  assembled  as  soon 
as  they  heard  of  the  riot)  until  the  houses  of 
the  grey  and  black  friars,  with  the  costly  edi- 
fice of  the  Carthusian  monks,  were  laid  in 
ruins.  None  of  the  gentleman,  or  sober  part 
of  the  congregation  were  concerned  in  this  un- 
premeditated tumult.  It  was  wholly  confined 
to  the  baser  inhabitants;  or  as  Knox  calls 
them,  "  the  rascall  multitude.^^ 

As  might  be  expected,  this  riot  was  very 
unfavourable  to  the  Reformation;  and  nothing 
could  have  happened  more  opportunely  for 
the  Queen  Regent;  for  it  enabled  her  to  turn 
the  indignation  from  herself,  and  direct  it 
against  the  congregation.  And  she  did  not 
fail  to  improve  it  with  her  usual  address. 
Having  assembled  the  nobility,  she  magnified 
the  accidental  tumult  into  a   dangerous  and 


128  THE  LIFE  OF 

designed  rebellion.  To  the  Catholics  she 
dwelt  upon  the  sacrilegious  overthrow  of  those 
venerable  structures  which  their  ancestors  had 
dedicated  to  the  service  of  God.  To  the  Pro- 
testants, who  had  not  joined  the  congregation 
at  Perth;  she  complained  of  the  destruction  of 
the  royal  charter  house;  protested  that  she  had 
no  intention  of  offering  violence  to  their  con- 
sciences, and  promised  them  protection,  if  they 
would  assist  her  in  punishing  those  who  had 
been  guilty  of  this  violation  of  public  order. 
Having  inflamed  the  minds  of  all  against  them, 
she  advanced  to  Perth  with  an  army,  threat- 
ening to  lay  waste  the  town  with  fire  and 
sw^ord,  and  to  inflict  the  most  exemplary  ven- 
geance on  all  who  had  been  instrumental  in 
producing  this  riot.  The  Protestants  of  the 
north,  finding  that  they  could  only  evade  the 
danger  of  a  general  massacre  by  a  bold  resist- 
ance, prepared  themselves  promptl|r  to  defend 
the  tower  to  the  utmost.  The  Queen  Regent 
deemed  it  imprudent  to  attack  them,  and  pro- 
posed overtures  of  accommodation,  to  which 
they  readily  acceded.  While  the  armies  were 
before  Perth,  and  negotiations  were  going  on, 
Knox    obtained   an    interview    with   his  old 


JOHN  KNOX.  129 

friends  the  Duke  of  Argyle  and  the  Prior  of 
St.  Andrews,  who  were  now  adhering  to  the 
Regent.  He  solemnly  and  faithfully  dealt  with 
them,  for  their  violation  of  the  engagements 
into  which  they  had  entered  in  support  of  the 
Reformation.  They  assured  him  that  they 
held  their  engagement  sacred;  that  the  Regent 
had  requested  them  to  exert  their  influence  to 
bring  the  present  differences  to  an  amicable 
termination;  if,  however,  she  violated  the  pre- 
sent treaty _,  they  promised  that  they  would  no 
longer  adhere  to  her,  but  would  openly  take  part 
with  the  rest  of  the  congregation.  The  Queen 
was  not  long  in  affording  them  the  opportu- 
nity of  verifying  this  promise. 

All  attempts  to  bring  about  a  reformation  of 
gross  abuses,  by  the  Regent  or  the  clergy,  to 
both  of  whom  the  most  earnest  supplications 
for  this  purpose  had  been  presented,  the  lords 
of  the  congregation  now  resolved  to  introduce 
a  reformation  in  those  places  to  which  their 
authority  extended;  and  where  the  greater 
part  of  the  inhabitants  were  friendly,  by  abol- 
ishing the  popish  superstition,  and  setting  up 
the  Protestant  worship.  St.  Andrews  was  the 
place  fixed  on  for  beginning  these  operations. 

12* 


130  THE  LIFE  OF 

With  this  view  the  Lord  James  Stewart,  who 
was  the  prior  of  the  abbey  of  St.  Andrews, 
and  the  Earl  of  Argyle,  made  an  appointment 
with  Knox  to  meet  them  on  a  certain  day  in 
that  city.  Knox,  travelling  along  the  coast  of 
Fife,  preached  at  Anstruther  and  Crail,  and  on 
the  9th  of  June  came  to  St.  Andrews.  The 
archbishop  apprized  of  his  design,  to  preach  in 
the  Cathedral,  assembled  an  armed  force,  and 
sent  information  to  him,  that  if  he  appeared  in 
the  pulpit  he  would  give  orders  to  the  soldiers 
to  fire  upon  him.  The  noblemen  having  met 
to  consult  what  was  best  to  be  done,  were  of 
opinion,  that  Knox  should  desist  from  his  de- 
sign of  preaching  at  that  time.  Their  retinue 
was  very  slender;  they  had  not  yet  ascertained 
the  disposition  of  the  town;  the  Queen,  with 
her  army,  lay  at  a  small  distance  ready  to 
come  to  the  bishop's  assistance;  and  his  ap- 
pearance in  the  pulpit  might  lead  to  the  sacri- 
fice of  his  own  life  and  the  lives  of  those  who 
were  determined  to  defend  him  from  violence. 
There  are  times,  when  the  best  course  to 
evade  danger  is  to  meet  it,  and  when  the  ordi- 
nary rules  of  prudence  may  wisely  be  disre- 
garded.     In  the  opinion  of  Knox,  such  an 


JOHN  KNOX,  131 

occasion  had  now  occurred.  Had  the  reform- 
ers now  suffered  themselves  to  be  intimida- 
ted by  the  threats  of  their  enemies,  after  an- 
nouncing their  intentions,  their  cause  would  at 
the  very  outset  have  received  a  blow  from 
which  it  would  not  soon  have  recovered.  But 
Knox,  by  his  firmness  and  intrepidity,  pre- 
vented the  evil.  Fired  with  the  recollection 
of  the  part  which  he  had  formerly  acted  on 
that  spot,  and  with  the  near  prospect  of  reali- 
zing the  sanguine  hopes  which  he  had  cher- 
ished in  his  breast  for  many  years,  he  replied 
to  the  solicitations  of  his  brethren,  "that  he 
could  take  God  to  witness  that  he  never 
preached  in  contem.pt  of  any  man,  nor  with 
the  design  of  hurting  any  earthly  creature; 
but  to  delay  to  preach  next  day,  unless  forci- 
bly hindered^  he  could  not  in  conscience  agree. 
In  that  town  and  in  that  church,  had  God  first 
raised  him  to  the  dignity  of  a  preacher*,  and 
from  it  he  had  been  reft  by  French  tyranny, 
at  the  instigation  of  the  Scottish  bishops.  The 
length  of  his  imprisonment  and  the  tortures 
which  he  had  endured,'^  he  said,  "  he  would 
not  recite  at  present;  but  one  thing  he  could 
not  conceal,  that  in  the  hearing  of  many  yet 


132  THE  LIFE  OF 

alive,  he  had  expressed  his  confident  hope  of 
preaching  again  in  St.  Andrews.  Now,  there- 
fore, when  Providence,  beyond  all  men's  ex- 
pectations, had  brought  him  to  that  place,  he 
besought  them  not  to  hinder  him."  "  As  for 
the  fear  of  danger  that  may  come  to  me,  let 
no  man  be  solicitous;  for  my  life  is  in  the  cus- 
tody of  Him  whose  glory  I  seek.  I  desire  the 
hand  or  weapon  of  no  man  to  defend  me.  I 
only  crave  audience,  which,  if  it  be  denied 
unto  me  here  at  this  time,  I  must  seek  where 
I  may  have  it." 

This  intrepid  reply  silenced  all  further  re- 
monstrance; and  the  next  day  Knox  appeared 
in  the  pulpit  and  preached  to  a  numerous 
assembly,  without  meeting  with  the  slightest 
opposition  or  interruption.  The  subject  of  his 
discourse  was  our  Saviour's  expel] ing  the  pro- 
fane trafficers  from  the  temple;  from  which  he 
took  occasion  to  expose  the  enormous  corrup- 
tions which  had  been  introduced  into  the 
church  under  the  papacy,  and  to  point  out 
what  was  incumbent  on  Christians,  in  their 
different  spheres,  for  removing  them.  On  the 
three  following  days  he  preached  in  the  same 
place;  and,  such  was  the  influence  of  his  doc- 


JOHN    KNOX.  133 

trine,  that  the  provost,  baillies,  and  inhabitants, 
harmoniously  agreed  to  set  up  the  reformed 
worship  in  the  town.  The  church  was  stripped 
of  images  and  pictures  and  the  monasteries 
pulled  down.  The  example  of  St.  Andrews 
was  quickly  followed  in  other  parts  of  the 
kingdom;  and,  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks, 
at  Crail,  at  Cupar,  at  Lindores,  at  Stirling,  at 
Linlithgow,  and  at  Edinburg,  the  houses  of 
the  monks  were  overthrown,  and  all  the  in- 
struments which  had  been  used  to  foster  ido- 
latry and  image-worship,  were  destroyed. 

Great  complaints  have  been  made  against 
Knox,  even  by  Protestant  writers,  for  the 
destruction  of  so  many  elegant  models,  of 
gothic  architecture ;  but  there  were  interests 
at  stake  far  more  valuable  than  the  preserva- 
tion of  those  monuments  of  the  fine  arts,  which 
had  been  consecrated  to  idolatry.  It  was  a 
piece  of  good  policy,  and  contributed  mate- 
rially to  the  overthrow  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
religion  in  Scotland,  and  the  prevention  of  its 
re-establishment.  It  was  chiefly  by  the  mag- 
nificence of  temples,  and  the  splendid  apparatus 
of  its  worship,  that  the  popish  church  fascinated 
the   senses   and  imaginations   of   the   people. 


134  THE  LIFE  OF 

There  could  not,  therefore,  be  a  more  success- 
ful method  of  attacking  it  than  by  demolishing 
these.  There  is  more  wisdom  in  the  saying 
of  Knox,  than  many  seem  to  perceive,  "  That 
the  best  way  to  keep  the  rooks  from  returning, 
was  to  destroy  their  nests.'^  In  demolishing 
or  rendering  uninhabitable  all  those  buildings 
which  had  served  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
ancient  superstitions — except  such  as  were 
requisite  for  Protestant  worship — the  reform- 
ers only  acted  on  the  principles  of  a  prudent 
general,  who  razes  the  castles  and  fortifications 
which  he  is  unable  to  keep,  and  which  might 
afterwards  be  seized  and  employed  against  him 
by  the  enemy.  Had  they  been  allowed  to  re- 
remain,  the  popish  clergy  would  not  have 
ceased  to  indulge  hopes,  and  to  make  efforts 
to  be  restored  to  them.  Occasions  would  have 
been  taken  to  tamper  with  the  credulous,  and 
inflame  the  minds  of  the  superstitious,  and  the 
reformers  might  have  soon  found  reason  to  re- 
pent their  ill  judged  forbearance.  Besides,  we 
know  that  under  the  Old  Testament,  all  the  in- 
struments and  monuments  of  idolatry  were  ex- 
pressly commanded  to  be  destroyed;  and  that  the 
practice  was  sanctioned  by  the  example  of  the 


JOHN  KNOX.  135 

early  Christians.  Still,  however,  much  might 
be  said  against  making  war  on  inanimate 
buildings;  and,  perhaps,  the  justification  of 
Knox  and  his  friends  will  not  be  complete 
without  taking  into  view,  the  fact,  that  the 
manners  of  the  nation  were,  at  this  time,  far 
from  that  refinement  which  in  more  modern 
times  has  been  attained.  Knox  was  eminently 
suited  to  the  rough  work  which  he  was  called 
by  providence  to  execute,  a&  was  also  Luther. 
It  is  always  unjust  to  judge  of  the  conduct  and 
manners  of  a  man  of  one  age,  by  those  of  ano- 


7 


Iher,  exceedingly  different. 

Our  reformer  continued  at  St.  Andrews  till 
the  end  of  June,  when  he  came  to  Edinburg, 
from  which  the  Regent  and  her  forces  had  re- 
tired. The  Protestants  in  that  city  had  fixed 
their  eyes  upon  him,  and  chose  him  imme- 
diately for  their  minister.  He,  accordingly, 
entered  upon  that  charge;  but  the  congrega- 
tion having,  by  a  treaty  with  the  Regent,  de- 
livered up  Edinburg  unto  her,  it  was  judged 
by  them  unsafe  for  Knox  to  remain  in  a  place 
under  the  authority  of  the  papist.s,  whose  hos- 
tility to  him  knew  no  bounds.  Willock  was, 
therefore,  substituted  in  his  place  for  that  city; 


138  THE  LIFE  OP 

and  this  was  ordered  in  providence  for  his 
greater  usefuhiess,  for  he  now  undertook  a 
preaching  tour  through  the  kingdom,  which 
had  great  influence  in  extending  the  Reforma- 
tion. The  wide  field  which  was  before  him, 
the  interesting  situation  in  which  he  was 
placed,  the  dangers  by  which  he  was  surround- 
ed, and  the  hopes  which  he  cherished,  increased 
the  ardour  of  his  zeal,  and  stimulated  him  to 
extraordinary  exertions,  both  of  body  and 
mind.  Within  less  than  two  months  he  tra- 
velled over  the  greater  part  of  Scotland.  He 
visited  Kelso,  and  Jedburgh,  and  Dumfries, 
and  Ayr,  and  Stirling,  and  Perth,  and  Brechin, 
and  Montrose,  and  Dundee,  and  then  returned 
again  to  St.  Andrews.  The  attention  of  the 
nation  was  aroused,  their  eyes  were  opened 
to  the  errors  by  which  they  had  been  deluded, 
and  they  panted  for  the  word  of  life  when  they 
had  once  tasted  its  sweetness.  From  his  let- 
ters, written  at  this  time,  it  appears  that  his 
success  was  far  beyond  his  expectations,  and 
that,  though  he  had  to  struggle  with  ill-health, 
yet  his  labours  were  incessant,  so  that  he 
scarcely  found  time  to  take  his  necessary 
food   and   rest.      But   his   spiritual   comforts 


JOHN  KNOX.  137 

appear  to  have  abounded  in  proportion  to  his 
labours. 

Immediately  after  his  arrival  in  Scotland, 
Knox  wrote  to  Geneva,  for  his  wife  and  fa- 
mily. When  they  arrived  at  Paris,  they  ap- 
plied to.  the  English  ambassador  for  a  safe  con- 
duct to  pass  through  England,  on  their  way  to 
Scotland;  who  not  only  granted  it,  but  wrote 
to  the  Queen,  begging  her  to  pardon  the  oflfence 
of  Knox,  as  he  believed  him  capable  of  render- 
ing important  service  to  her  interests,  by 
promoting  the  reformation  in  Scotland;  where 
already  a  great  change  had  taken  place  through 
his  instrumentality.  Accordingly,  Mrs.  Knox 
came  into  England,  and  being  conveyed  to 
the  borders  by  the  directions  of  the  court, 
reached  her  husband  in  safety,  on  the  20th  of 
September.  Her  mother,  after  remaining  a 
short  time  in  England,  followed  her  to  Scot- 
land, where  she  remained  until  her  death. 
The  pleasure  of  meeting  his  family  once  more, 
was  increased  to  our  reformer  by  the  arrival 
with  them  of  Christopher  Goodman,  his  late 
colleague  at  Geneva,  for  whom  he  had  writ- 
ten to  come  to  his  assistance,  in  the  most 
pressing  manner.     Goodman  became  minister 

13 


138  THE  LIFE  OF 

of  St.  Andrews.  The  settlement  of  Protes- 
tant ministers,  in  various  places,  occurred 
sooner  than  is  stated  in  the  common  histories 
of  those  times.  As  early  as  September,  1559, 
eight  towns  were  provided  with  reformed 
pastors;  while  many  remained  destitute,  on 
account  of  the  paucity  of  ministers. 

It  became  every  day  more  evident,  that  the 
congregation  would  not  be  able,  without 
foreign  aid,  to  maintain  the  struggle  in  which 
they  were  engaged;  since  they  had  to  contend, 
not  only  against  their  domestic  foes,  but  the 
power  of  France.  Knox,  therefore,  renewed 
his  exertions  to  obtain  assistance  from  Eng- 
land. The  letters  written,  on  this  occasion^ 
were  favourably  received,  and  the  continuance 
of  correspondence  encouraged  by  the  English 
court.  But  Knox,  anxious  to  conciliate  the 
Queen,  wrote  to  secretary  Cecil,  and  inclosed 
an  apologetic  epistle  to  her  majesty ;  but  there 
was  nothing  at  which  he  was  more  awkward 
than  making  apologies;  and  this  letter,  had  it 
been  delivered,  which  it  probably  was  not, 
would  only  have  served  to  increase  the  of- 
fence. Cecil  himself  was  favourable  to  the 
plan  of  aiding  the  Scots,  and  endeavoured  to 


JOHN   KNOX.  139 

bring  the  Queen  and  her  council  to  adopt 
measures  for  this  end.  But  the  British  court 
acted  with  much  caution  and  hesitation  in  the 
business.  Their  answer  to  the  letters  before 
mentioned  were  of  such  a  character^  as  to  dis- 
courage the  council;  and  it  was  only  in  conse- 
quence of  Knox's  importunity,  that  they  per- 
mitted him  to  write  to  England  again  in  his 
own  name,  which  he  did  with  so  much  urgen- 
cy, that  a  speedy  reply  was  received,  desiring 
them  to  send  a  confidential  messenger  to  Ber- 
wick, who  would  receive  a  sum  of  money  to 
assist  them  in  carrying  on  the  war.  About 
the  same  time,  Sir  Ralph  Sadler  was  sent  to 
Berwick  as  an  accredited,  but  secret  agent ;  and 
the  correspondence  was  afterwards  carried  on 
through  him  and  Sir  James  Croft,  until  the 
English  auxiliary  army  entered  Scotland. 

Knox  had  no  desire  to  meddle  in  political 
affairs,  but  civil  and  ecclesiastical  matters  were 
so  mingled,  at  this  time,  and  there  was  so  lit- 
tle learning  among  the  nobility,  that  he  v^'as 
under  the  necessity  of  managing  their  corres- 
pondence, in  connexion  with  Balnaves.  This 
he  did,  out  of  a  sense  of  duty  and  regard  to 
the   common   cause,  but   when   the   younger 


140  THE  LIFE  OF 

Maitland  joined  their  party,  he  expressed  the 
greatest  satisfaction  at  the  prospect  of  heing 
relieved  from  this  burden.  Indeed,  both  from 
disposition  and  habit,  Knox  was  poorly  fitted 
for  the  intrigues  of  politics;  and  several  cir- 
cumstances occurred,  sorely  to  vex  his  spirit. 
The  correspondence  between  the  English 
court  and  the  congregation  was  by  no  means 
entirely  harmonious.  The  former  wished 
from  the  latter  a  more  prompt  and  vigorous 
action  in  opposition  to  the  Queen  Regent  be- 
fore the  French  troops  arrived;  and  the  latter 
desired  not  merely  aid  in  money,  but  a  mili- 
tary force  to  enable  them  to  resist  their  ene- 
mies with  success.  Knox,  in  a  letter  to  Croft, 
insisted  on  the  employment  of  an  armed  forco 
to  enable  the  Protestants  to  carry  on  the  siege 
of  Leith.  His  impetuosity  was  checked  by 
the  answer  of  Croft,  who  alleged,  that  this 
would  be  a  violation  of  the  existing  treaty 
with  France.  To  which  Knox  replied,  that 
this  was  not  contrary  to  the  common  practice 
of  courts,  in  such  matters,  and  of  the  French 
court  in  a  recent  instance.  The  reformer 
has  been  verj''  much  censured  for  the  proposal 
of  such  measures;  and  it  is  the  only  instance 


JOHN  KNOX.  141 

in  the  life  of  Knox,  in  which  he  recommended 
any  thing  like  dissimulation,  which  was  a 
thing  exceedingly  contrary  to  his  disposition. 
His  own  opinion  was,  that  the  English  ought 
to  have  done  at  first,  what  at  last  they  were 
obliged  to  do  ;  that  is,  they  should  have  open- 
ly declared  their  purpose  to  aid  the  congrega- 
tion. 

The  very  active  and  decided  part  which 
Knox  took  in  the  affairs  of  the  congregation, 
exposed  him  to  the  deadly  enmity  of  the 
Queen  Regent.  A  reward  was  publicly  offered 
to  the  person  who  should  seize  or  kill  him ; 
and  numbers,  actuated  by  malice  or  avarice, 
lay  in  wait  for  his  apprehension.  But  this 
did  not  deter  him  from  travelling  through  the 
country  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty.  His  ex- 
ertions, at  this  period,  were  exceedingly  great. 
By  day  he  was  employed  in  preaching,  and 
by  night  in  writing  letters  on  public  affairs. 
He  was  the  soul  of  the  congregation;  was  al- 
ways present  at  the  post  of  danger;  and  by 
his  presence,  his  public  discourses,  and  private 
advices,  animated  the  whole  body,  and  defeat- 
ed the  schemes  employed  to  corrupt  and  disu- 
nite them. 

13* 


142  THE  LIFE  OF 

The  congregation  were  now  called  upon  to 
act  in  a  very  delicate  and  difficult  case.  Hith- 
erto they  had  acknowledged  the  authority  of 
the  Queen  Regent,  and  continued  to  prefer  their 
petitions  to  her  for  the  redress  of  grievances ; 
but  now  it  began  to  be  a  matter  of  discuss»ion, 
whether  she  had  not  forfeited  all  right  to 
rule  over  the  nation,  by  bringing  in  foreign 
troops  to  destroy  the  liberties  of  the  people ; 
and  whether,  as  she  had  been  created  Re- 
gent by  the  parliament,  the  same  power  could 
not  take  away  her  power.  A  regular  meet- 
ing of  parliament,  it  was  true,  could  not  be 
now  had,  but  the  people  and  nobility  who 
were  the  constituents  of  parliament,  and  from 
whom  all  power  emanated,  might  meet  and 
act  on  this  important  subject.  After  much 
deliberation,  a  numerous  assembly  of  barons, 
nobles,  and  representatives  of  boroughs  rnet 
at  Edinburgh,  on  the  21st  of  October,  to 
bring  the  matter  to  a  solemn  issue.  To  this 
assembly  Knox  and  Willock  were  called,  and 
were  required  to  deliver  their  opinions,  as 
to  the  lawfulness  of  the  measure.  Willock, 
who  officiated  as  minister  of  Edinburg,  first 
spoke,  and  said,  that  in  his  judgment,  founded 


JOHN    KNOX.  143 

on  reason  and  Scripture,  the  power  of  rulers 
was  limited ;  and  that  they  might  be  depriv- 
ed of  it  on  valid  grounds,  and  that  the  Queen 
Regent  having  by  the  fortification  of  Leith  and 
the  introduction  of  foreign  troops,  evinced  a 
fixed  determination  to  oppress  and  enslave  the 
people,  might  justly  be  deprived  of  her  autho- 
rity, by  the  nobles  and  barons,  and  the  native 
counsellors  of  the  realm,  whose  petitions  and 
remonstrances,  she   had   repeatedly  rejected. 
Knox  assented  to  the  opinion  of  his  brother, 
and  added,  that  the  assembly  might  with  safe 
consciences  act  upon  it,  provided,  they  attend- 
ed to  the  three  following  things:   first,  that 
they   did    not  suffer   their  opposition    to  the 
Regent,  to  alienate   their  affections  and   alle- 
giance from  their  lawful  sovereigns,  Francis 
and  Mary  ;  second,  that  in  this  measure,  they 
were  not  actuated  by  private  hatred  to  the 
Regent,  but  by  regard  to  the  safety  of  the 
commonwealth  ;  and  third,  that  any  sentence 
which  they  might  pronounce,  should  not  pre- 
clude the  re-admission  of  the  Regent,  if  she 
afterwards  discovered  sorrow  for  her  conduct, 
and  a  disposition  to  submit  to  the  advice  of 
the  counsellors  of  the  realm.     The  whole  as- 


144  THE  LIFE  OF 

sembly  now  delivered  their  opinions,  in  con- 
formity with  those  of  the  ministers,  and  then 
proceeded,  by  a  solemn  deed,  to  suspend  the 
Queen  Dowager,  from  her  authority  as  Regent 
of  the  kingdom,  until  the  meeting  of  a  free 
parliament^  and,  in  the  interval,  elected  a 
council  for  the  management  of  public  affairs. 

The  preachers  have  been  blamed  for  inter- 
posing their  advice  on  this  great  political  ques- 
tion; but  there  are  critical  periods  in  the  his- 
tory of  nations,  in  which  every  man  should  be 
ready  to  give  his  advice  and  aid;  and  minis- 
ters have  as  deep  a  stake  in  the  welfare  of  the 
commonwealth  as  others,  and  by  accepting  the 
sacred  office  do  not  disfranchise  themselves, 
or  divest  themselves  of  the  obligation  to  per- 
form the  duties  of  good  citizens.  Moreover, 
the  question  now  to  be  decided,  was  not 
merely  political  but  involved  a  great  moral 
principle,  touching  the  duty  of  subjects  to 
their  rulers;  and  therefore,  a  fit  question  to  be 
discussed  and  decided  by  the  official  interpre- 
ters of  the  law  of  God. 

While  popery  held  undisputed  dominion  in 
Europe,  every  vestige  of  civil  liberty  was  ex- 
tinct.    The  ideas  of  the  power  of  the  pope 


JOHN  KNOX.  145 

were  such,  that  kings  and  all  civil  authorities 
were  considered  as  subject  to  his  power;  and 
this  power  was,  in  a  number  of  instances,  ex- 
ercised over  the  haughtiest  monarchs.  The 
first  dawn  of  deliverance  from  this  spiritual 
tyranny  arose  out  of  the  controversy  between 
the  popes  and  general  .councils;  but  by  the 
revival  of  letters  in  the  west  of  Europe,  new 
ideas  of  liberty  were  produced  from  an  ac- 
quaintance with  the  Grecian  and  Roman  repub- 
lics; but  these  sentiments  were  confined  to 
comparatively  few.  The  spirit  infused  by 
philosophy  and  literature  is  too  feeble  and 
contracted  to  produce  a  radical  reform  of  es- 
tablished abuses.  It  is  to  the  religious  spirit 
excited,  during  the  sixteenth  century,  which 
spread  rapidly  through  Europe  and  diffused 
itself  among  all  classes  of  m.en,  that  we  are 
chiefly  indebted  for  the  propagation  of  the 
genuine  principles  of  rational  liberty,  and  the 
consequent  amelioration  of  government.  In 
effecting  that  memorable  revolution,  which 
terminated  in  favour  of  religious  and  political 
liberty,  in  so  many  nations  of  Europe,  the 
public  teachers  of  the  Protestant  doctrine  had 
a   principal  influence.     By   their  instructions 


146  THE  LIFE  OF 

and  exhortations,  they  roused  the  people  to 
consider  their  rights  and  exert  their  power. 
They  stimulated  timid  and  wary  politicians; 
encouraged  and  animated  princes,  nobles,  and 
confederated  states,  with  their  armies,  against 
the  most  formidable  opposition,  and  under  the 
most  overwhelming  difficulties,  until  their  ex- 
ertions were  crowned  with  the  most  signal 
success.  These  facts  are  now  admitted,  and 
this  honour  at  last,  through  the  force  of  truth, 
awarded  to  the  religious  leaders  of  the  Pro- 
testant Reformation,  by  philosophical  writers,* 
who  had  so  long  branded  them  as  ignorant  and 
fanatical. 

Our  reformer  had  caught  a  large  portion  of 
the  spirit  of  civil  liberty.  We  have  already 
adverted  to  circumstances  which  early  directed 
his  attention  to  some  of  its  principles.  His  sub- 
sequent studies  introduced  him  to  an  acquain- 
tance with  the  maxims  and  modes  of  govern- 
ment of  the  free  states  of  antiquity;  and  it  is 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  his  intercourse  with 
the  republics  of  Switzerland  and  Geneva,  had 
some  influence  on  his  political  creed.  Having 
formed  his  sentiments  independently  of  the 

*  See  Viller's  Essay. 


JOHN    KNOX.  147 

prejudices  arising  from  established  laws,  long 
usage,  and  commonly  received  opinions,  his 
zeal  and  intrepidity  prompted  him  to  avow 
and  propagate  them,  when  others  less  sanguine 
and  resolute,  would  have  been  restrained  by 
fear,  or  despair  of  success.  Extensive  obser- 
vation had  made  him  aware  of  the  glaring  per- 
version of  government,  in  most  of  the  Euro- 
pean kingdoms.  But  his  principles  led  him 
to  desire  their  reform  not  their  subversion. 
He  was  perfectly  sensible  of  the  necessity  of 
regular  government  to  the  maintenance  of 
justice  and  order  among  mankind,  and  aware 
of  the  danger  of  setting  them  free  from  its 
salutary  restraints.  He  uniformly  inculcated 
a  conscientious  obedience  to  the  lawful  com- 
mands of  rulers,  and  respect  to  their  persons 
as  well  as  their  authority;  even  when  they 
were  chargeable  with  various  mismanage- 
ments; as  long  as  they  did  not  break  through 
all  the  restraints  of  law  and  justice,  and  cease 
to  perform  the  essential  duties  of  their  office. 
But  he  held,  that  rulers,  supreme  as  well  as 
subordinate,  were  invested  with  authority  for 
the  public  good;  that  obedience  was  not  due 
to  them  in  any  thing  contrary  to  the  divine 


148  THE  LIFE  OF 

law;  that  in  every  free  and  well  constituted 
government,  the  law  of  the  land  was  superior 
to  the  will  of  the  prince;  and  that  inferior 
magistrates  and  subjects  might  restrain  the 
supreme  magistrate  from  particular  illegal  acts, 
without  throwing  off  their  allegiance,  or  being 
guilty  of  rebellion;  that  no  class  of  men  have 
an  original^  inherent,  and  indefeasible  right  to 
rule  over  a  people  independently  of  their  will 
and  consent;  and  that  a  nation  have  a  right  to 
provide  and  require,  that  they  be  ruled  by 
laws  agreeing  with  the  divine  law,  and  calcu- 
lated to  promote  their  welfare.  That  there  is 
a  mutual  compact,  tacit  and  implied,  if  not 
formal  and  explicit,  between  rulers  and  their 
subjects;  and  if  the  former  shall  flagrantly  vio- 
late this,  employ  that  power  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  a  commonwealth  which  was  committed 
to  them  for  its  preservation  and  benefit;  in 
one  word,  if  they  shall  become  habitual  ty- 
rants and  notorious  oppressors,  that  the  people 
are  absolved  from  allegiance,  have  a  right  to 
resist  them,  and  to  elect  others  in  their  room. 
Such,  in  substance,  were  the  political  senti- 
ments of  our  reformer.  These  principles  were 
strenuously  inculcated  by  him,  and  acted  upon 


JOHN  KNOX.  149 

in  Scotland  in  more  than  one  instance  while 
he  lived.  That  they  should  have  exposed 
those  who  held  them  to  the  charge  of  treason, 
from  the  despotic  rulers  of  that  day;  and  that 
they  should  have  been  regarded  with  suspicion 
by  some  of  the  learned,  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at.  But  it  must  excite  both  surprise  and  in- 
dignation, to  find  writers  in  the  present  enlight- 
ened age,  and  under  the  sunshine  of  British 
liberty,  expressing  their  abhorrence  of  these 
sentiments,  and  exhausting  upon  their  authors 
all  the  invective  and  virulence  of  the  former 
advocates  of  passive  obedience. 

[Whatever  may  be  thought  of  these  princi- 
ples now,  in  Great  Britain  they  are  precisely 
such  as  are  universally  entertained  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  of  America;  and  on  these  all  our 
constitutions  and  laws  are  founded.  Indeed, 
they  were  all  involved  and  carried  out  in  the 
revolution,  by  which  these  States  became  free 
and  independent;  and  to  prevent  all  collision 
between  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical  authorities, 
it  is  a  principle  undisputed  and  sacred  among 
us,  that  civil  government  has  nothing  to  do 
with  religion  except  to  protect  its  professors 
in  the  full  exercise  of  their  opinions  and  wor- 

14 


150  THE  LIFE  OF 

ship,  provided  they  do  not  directly  militate 
with  the  welfare  and  good  order  of  civil  soci- 
ety. Perhaps,  even  Knox  himself,  would  npt 
have  gone  to  this  length  in  the  assertion  of 
civil  and  religious  liberty;  but  undoubtedly 
his  principles,  fairly  carried  out,  lead  to  all 
that  is  received  and  adopted  on  this  subject  in 
these  United  States.] 

Those  who  judge  of  the  propriety  of  any 
measure  by  its  success,  will  be  disposed  to 
condemn  the  suspension  of  the  Queen  Regent. 
Sooo  after  this  step  was  taken,  the  affairs  of 
the  congregation  began  to  wear  a  gloomy  ap- 
pearance. The  messenger,  sent  to  Berwick  to 
receive  a  remittance  from  the  English  court, 
was  intercepted  on  his  return  and  rifled  of  the 
treasure:  their  soldiers  mutinied  for  want  of 
pay;  they  were  repulsed  in  a  premature  as- 
sault on  the  fortifications  of  Leith,  and  worsted 
in  a  skirmish  with  the  French  troops.  The 
secret  emissaries  of  the  Regent  were  also  too 
successful  among  them;  their  numbers  daily 
decreased;  and  the  remainder  disunited,  dis- 
pirited, and  dismayed,  came  to  the  resolution 
of  abandoning  Edinburg  on  the  5th  of  Novem- 
ber, and  retreated  with  precipitation  and  dis- 


JOHN  KNOX.  151 

grace  to  Stirling.  Amidst  the  universal  dejec- 
tion produced  by  these  disasters,  the  spirit  of 
Knox,  alone,  remained  unsubdued.  On  the 
day  after  their  arrival  at  Stirling,  he  mounted 
the  pulpit  and  delivered  a  discourse  which  had 
a  wonderful  effect  in  rekindling  the  zeal  and 
courage  of  the  congregation.  In  this  discourse 
he  took  pains  to  guard  them  against  the  opin- 
ion, that  this  discomfiture  had  overtaken  them 
as^  judgment  of  God,  for  taking  up  arms  to 
defend  their  rights  and  liberties;  and  then 
pointed  out  what  he  considered  blameable  in 
all  classes;  and  after  exhorting  all  to  amend- 
ment of  life,  prayers,  and  charity,  he  conclu- 
ded with  an  animating  address.  "  God,"  he 
said,  "  often  suffered  the  wicked  to  triumph 
for  a  while,  exposed  his  chosen  congregation 
to, mockery  and  apparent  destruction,  in  order 
to  abase  their  self-confidence,  and  induce  them 
to  look  to  him  for  deliverance  and  victory. 
If  they  turned  unfeignedly  to  the  Eternal,  he 
no  more  doubted,  that  their  present  distress 
would  be  converted  into  joy,  and  followed 
with  success,  than  he  doubted  that  Israel  was 
victorious  at  last  over  the  Benjamites;  though 
at  first   they   were  repulsed   with  ignominy. 


152  THE  LIFE  OF 

The  cause  in  which  they  were  engaged,  would, 
in  spite  of  all  opposition,  prevail  in  Scotland. 
It  was  the  eternal  truth  of  the  Eternal  God 
which  they  maintained;  it  might  he  oppressed 
for  a  time,  but  would  ultimately  triumph." 
The  audience  who  had  entered  the  church  in 
deep  despondency,  left  it  with  renovated  cou- 
rage. 

In  the  afternoon  the  council  met,  and  after 
prayer  by  Knox,  unanimously  agreed  to  dis- 
patch Maitland  to  London  to  supplicate  more 
effectual  assistance  from  Elizabeth.  In  the 
mean  time,  as  they  were  unable  to  keep  the 
field,  they  resolved  to  divide,  and  that  the  one 
half  of  the  council  should  remain  at  Glasgow, 
and  the  other  at  St.  Andrews.  Knox  was  ap- 
pointed to  attend  the  latter. 

According  to  Knox's  public  declaration  in 
his  sermon  at  Stirling,  their  discomfiture  at 
Edinburg  and  consequent  flight,  did  turn  out 
to  the  advantage  of  their  cause.  It  obliged 
the  English  court  to  abandon  the  line  of  cau- 
tious policy  which  they  had  hitherto  pursued. 
On  the  27th  of  February,  1560,  they  conclu- 
ded a  formal  treaty  with  the  lords  of  the  con- 
gregation; and  in  the  beginning  of  April  the 


JOHN    KNOX.  153 

English  army  entered  Scotland.  The  French 
troops  retired  within  the  fortifications  of  Leith, 
and  were  invested  by  land  and  sea.  The 
Queen  Regent  died  in  the  castle  of  Edinburg 
during  the  siege,  and  the  ambassadors  of 
France  were  forced  to  agree  to  a  treaty,  by 
which  it  was  provided,  that  the  French  troops 
should  be  removed  from  Scotland;  an  amnesty 
granted  to  all  who  had  been  engaged  in  the 
late  resistance  to  the  measures  of  the  Regent; 
their  principal  grievances  redressed;  and  a 
free  parliament  called  to  settle  the  affairs  of 
the  kingdom.  This  treaty  which  put  an  end 
to  hostilities,  made  no  settlement  respecting 
religious  differences;  but  on  that  very  account 
it  was  fatal  to  popery.  The  power  was  left  in 
the  hands  of  the  Protestants.  The  Roman 
Catholic  worship  was  almost  universally  sup' 
pressed  through  the  kingdom;  except  in  those 
places  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  Re- 
gent and  her  foreign  auxiliaries.  During  the 
war  the  Protestant  preachers  were  active  and 
zealous  in  preaching,  and  met  with  little  oppo- 
sition from  the  priests,  who  placed  their  sole 
reliance  on  the  aid  of  the  French.  The  firm 
hold  which  the  superstitions  of  popery  had  on 
14* 


154  THE    LIFE  OF 

the  minds  of  the  people,  was  completely 
loosed,  and  they  were  now  supported  by  force 
alone;  so  that  at  the  moment  when  the  French 
troops  left  Scotland,  the  fabric  which  had  stood 
for  ages,  fell  to  the  ground.  The  feeble  and 
discouraged  priesthood  ceased,  of  their  own 
accord,  from  the  celebration  of  its  rites;  and 
the  reformed  service  was  peaceably  set  up 
wherever  ministers  could  be  found  to  perform 
it.  When  the  parliament  met,  it  had  little  else 
to  do  respecting  religion,  than  to  sanction 
what  the  nation  had  previously  adopted. 

Thus  did  the  reformed  religion  advance  in 
Scotland,  from  small  beginnings,  and  amidst 
great  opposition,  until  it  attained  a  legal  esta- 
blishment. Besides,  the  secret  benediction 
which  accompanied  the  labours  of  the  preach- 
ers and  confessors  of  the  truth,  the  serious 
and  inquisitive  reader  will  trace  the  hand  of 
providence  in  that  concatenation  of  events, 
which  contributed  to  its  rise,  preservation, 
and  increase,  in  the  overruling  of  the  caprice, 
the  ambition,  avarice,  and  interested  policy  of 
princes  and  cabinets,  many  of  whom  had  no- 
thing less  in  view,  than  to  favour  that  cause, 
which  they  were  instrumental  in  promoting. 


JOHN  KNOX.  155 

The  breach  of  Plenry  VIII.,  of  England, 
with  the  Romish  See,  awakened  the  attention 
of  the  northern  inhabitants  of  the  islawd,  to  a 
controversy  which  had  been  hitherto  carried 
on  at  too  great  a  distance  to  interest  them^ 
and  led  not  a  few  to  desire  a  reformation  more 
perfect,  than  the  model  which  he  held  out  to 
them. 

The  premature  death  of  James  V.,  of  Scot- 
land, was  favourable  to  these  views ;  and 
during  the  short  period  in  which  they  received 
the  countenance  of  the  civil  authority,  at  the 
commencement  of  Arran's  regency,  the  seeds 
of  the  reformed  doctrine  were  widely  spread, 
and  had  taken  such  deep  root  as  to  be  able  to 
resist  the  violent  measures  which  the  Regent, 
after  his  recantation,  employed  to  extirpate 
them.  Those  who  were  driven  from  the 
country,  found  an  asylum  in  England  under 
the  decidedly  Protestant  government  of  Ed- 
ward VI.  After  his  death,  the  alliance  of 
England  with  Spain,  and  of  Scotland  with 
France,  the  two  great  contending  powers  on 
the  continent,  prevented  any  contest  between 
the  two  courts  which  might  have  proved  fatal 
to  the  Protestant  religion  in  Britain.     While 


156  THE  LIFE  OF 

the  cruelties  of  the  English  Queen  drove  evan- 
gelical preachers  into  Scotland,  the  political 
schemes  of  the  Queen  Regent,  also,  induced  her 
to  favour  the  Protestants  and  connive  at  the 
propagation  of  their  opinions.  At  the  critical 
moment,  when  she  had  accomplished  her  fa- 
vourite designs,  and  was  preparing  to  crush 
the  reformation,  Elizabeth  ascended  the  throne 
of  England,  who,  from  motives  of  policy,  no 
less  than  religion,  was  induced  to  support  .the 
Scottish  reformers.  The  princes  of  Lorrain, 
who,  by  the  accession  of  Frances  II.,  had  ob- 
tained the  sole  direction  of  the  French  court, 
were  resolutely  bent  on  their  suppression ;  and 
being  at  peace  with  Spain,  seemed  to  have  it 
in  their  power  to  turn  the  whole  force  of  the 
empire  against  them.  But  at  this  very  time 
arose  those  dissensions,  which  continued  so 
long  to  desolate  France,  and  forced  them  to 
accede  to  that  treaty  which  put  an  end  to  the 
French  influence  and  Roman  Catholic  religion 
in  Scotland. 


JOHN  KNOX.  157 


PERIOD    VI. 

FROM  HIS  SETTLEMENT  AS  A  MINISTER,  AT  EDINBURG,  TO  HIS" 
ACQUITTAL  FROM  A  CHARGE  OF  TREASON,  BY  THE  PRIVY 
COUNCIL,  1563. 

Immediately  after  the  proclamation  of  peace, 
Knox  resumed  his  station  as  minister  of  Edin- 
burg.  During  the  month  of  August,  he  was 
employed  in  composing  the  Protestant  "  Con- 
fession of  Faith/'  which  was  presented  to  the 
parliament  who  ratified  it,  and  abolished  the 
papal  jurisdiction  of  worship.  The  organiza- 
tion of  the  reformed  church  was,  however, 
not  yet  complete.  Hitherto,  the  "  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,"  agreed  upon  by  the  Eng- 
lish Church  at  Geneva,  had  been  chiefly  fol- 
lowed as  a  directory  for  worship  and  govern- 
ment. But  this  having  been  compiled  for  a 
single  congregation,  composed  chiefly  of  men 
of  learning,  was  found  inadequate  for  an  ex- 
tensive church,  consisting  of  a  multitude  of 
confederated  congregations.  Sensible  of  the 
great  importance  of  ecclesiastical  polity,  for 
the  maintenance  of  order,  the  preservation  of 
purity  of  doctrine  and  morals,  and  the  general 


158  THE  LIFE  OF 

prosperity  of  religion,  our  reformcrj  at  an 
early  period,  called  the  attention  of  the  Pro- 
testants to  this  subject,  and  urged  its  speedy 
settlement.  In  consequence  of  this,  the  lords 
of  the  Privy  Council  appointed  him  and  five 
other  ministers,  to  draw  out  a  plan,  such  as  they 
should  judge  to  be  agreeable  to  Scripture  and 
conducive  to  the  advancement  of  religion. 
They  met  accordingly,  and,  with  great  pains 
and  much  unanimity,  formed  the  book,  which 
w^as  afterwards  called  '^  The  First  Book  of 
Discipline. ^^ 

As  Knox  had  a  chief  hand  in  the  compila- 
tion of  this  book,  some  brief  account  of  the 
form  and  order  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  at 
the  first  establishment  of  the  Reformation,  will 
not  be  out  of  place  here.  The  ordinary  and  per- 
manent officers  of  the  church  were  of  four  kinds: 
the  minister  or  pastor  to  whom  the  preaching 
of  the  gospel  and  administration  of  the  sacra- 
ments belonged;  the  doctor,  or  teacher,  whose 
province  it  was  to  interpret  Scripture;  the 
ruling  elder,  who  assisted  the  minister  in  ex- 
ercising ecclesiastical  discipline;  and  the  dea- 
con who  had  the  especial  oversight  of  the 
revenues  of  the  church,  and  the  poor.     But, 


JOHN    KNOX.  159 

besides  these,  it  was  found  necessary,  at  that 
time,  to  employ  some  persons  in  extraordinary 
and  temporary  charges. 

As  the  ministers  were  too  few  to  supply  all 
the  vacant  churches,  serious  persons  were  ap- 
pointed to  read  the  Scriptures,  and  the  com- 
mon prayers.  These  were  called,  readers. 
If  they  improved  in  knowledge,  they  were 
encouraged  to  add  a  few  plain  exhortations,  to 
the  reading  of  the  Scriptures.  In  this  case, 
they  were  called  exhorters.  But  they  did 
not  enter  on  those  duties,  at  discretion,  but 
were  first  examined  and  approved.  The  afore- 
said state  of  things  gave  rise  also  to  another 
expedient,  for  the  supply  of  destitute  places. 
Instead  of  fixing  all  ministers  in  particular 
charges,  it  was  judged  proper,  after  suppl};ing 
some  of  the  principal  towns,  to  assign  to  the 
rest  the  superintendence  of  a  large  district, 
over  which  they  were  appointed  regularly  to 
itinerate,  for  the  purpose  of  preaching,  plant- 
ing churches,  and  inspecting  the  conduct  of 
ministers,  exhorters,  and  readers.  These  were 
called,  superintendents.  The  number  origi- 
nally proposed,  was  ten ;  but  owing  to  the 
scarcity  of  suitable  persons,  or  rather  the  want 


160  THE  LIFE  OF 

of  funds,  there  were  never  more  than  six  ap- 
pointed. The  deficiency  was  supplied  by 
commissioners,  or  visiters,  appointed  by  the 
General  Assembly.  The  mode  of  admission 
to  all  these  offices  was,  by  the  election  of  the 
people,  examination  of  the  candidate,  and  pub- 
lic recognition,  accompanied  with  prayer  and 
exhortation.  The  affairs  of  each  congregation 
were  managed  by  the  minister,  elders,  and 
deacons,  who  constituted  the  session,  which 
met  once  a  week,  or  oftener.  In  every  princi- 
pal town,  there  was  a  meeting  held,  consisting 
of  the  ministers,  exhorters,  and  learned  men 
in  the  vicinity,  for  expounding  the  Scriptures. 
As  this  was  held  weekly,  it  was  called  the 
weekly  exercise.  This  was  afterwards  con- 
verted into  the  Presbytery  or  classical  as- 
sembly. The  superintendents  met  with  the 
ministers  and  delegated  elders,  of  his  district, 
twice  a  year,  in  the  provincial  Synod,  which 
took  cognizance  of  ecclesiastical  affairs,  within 
its  bounds.  And  the  General  Assembly, 
which  was  composed  of  ministers  and  elders, 
commissioned  from  the  different  parts  of  the 
kingdom,  met  twice,  sometimes  thrice,  in  the 
year;   and    attended   to   the  interests   of  the 


JOHN    KNOX.  161 

whole  national  church.  Public  worship  was 
conducted,  according  to  the  book  of  Common 
Order,  with  a  few  variations.  The  compilers 
of  the  first  Book  of  Discipline,  paid  particular 
attention  to  the  education  of  the  people. 
They  required  that  a  school  be  erected  in 
every  parish,  for  the  instruction  of  the  youth, 
in  the  principles  of  religion,  grammar,  and  the 
Latin  tongue.  They  proposed,  that  a  college 
should  be  erected  in  every  notable  town,  in 
which  logic  and  rhetoric  should  be  taught 
along  with  the  learned  languages.  They  seem 
to  have  had  it  in  their  eye,  to  revive  the  sys- 
tem, adopted  by  some  of  the  ancient  republics, 
in  which  the  youth  were  considered  the  pro- 
perty of  the  state,  rather  than  of  their  parents, 
by  obliging  the  nobility  and  gentry  to  educate 
their  children,  and  providing  at  the  public  ex- 
pense, for  the  education  of  the  poor  who  dis- 
covered talents  for  learning.  Their  regulations 
for  the  three  national  universities,  discovered 
an  enlightened  regard  to  the  interests  of  lite- 
rature, which  deserve  attention  in  the  present 
age.  That  they  were  not  carried  into  effect 
was  not  the  fault  of  the  reformed  ministers, 
but  of  those  persons,  who,  through  avarice, 

15 


162  THE  LIFE  OF 

defeated  the  execution  of  their  plans.  But 
under  all  discouragementSj  learning  made 
great  progress  in  Scotland,  to  the  close  of  the 
century.  Very  false  notions  are  entertained 
by  many,  of  the  rudeness  and  ignorance  of 
these  times,  as  though  there  was  very  little 
learning,  even  among  the  clergy.  Let  such 
consider  a  single  fact.  In  the  house  of  Mr. 
John  Rowe,  minister  of  Perth,  the  conversa- 
tion in  the  family,  and  among  the  pupils,  was 
usually  carried  on  in  French ;  and  at  family 
worship,  the  Bible  was  read  in  Hebrew, 
Greek,  Latin,  and  French,  by  the  boys.  Many 
of  the  nobility  and  gentry,  placed  their  sons 
in  the  family  of  this  excellent  minister,  that 
they  might  be  instructed  in  Greek  and  He- 
brew. When  the  Book  of  Discipline  was 
presented  to  the  Privy  Council,  it  was  coldly 
received,  and  its  formal  ratification  evaded. 
Not  that  they  differed  in  opinion  from  the 
ministers, respecting  ecclesiastical  government; 
but  partly  from  aversion  to  the  strictness  of 
discipline  against  vice,  here  inculcated ;  and, 
partly,  from  reluctance  to  comply  with  its  re- 
quisition, for  the  appropriation  of  the  revenues 
of  the  popish  church   to  the  support  of  the 


JOHN  KNOX.  163 

new  religious,  and  literary  establishment. 
However,  it  was  subscribed  by  the  majority 
of  the  members  of  council,  and  carried  into 
effect,  through  the  nation,  in  all  its  principal 
ecclesiastical  regulations. 

The  first  GeneralJlssemhly  of  the  Reform- 
ed church  of  Scotland  met  in  Edinburg,  on 
the  20th  of  December,  1560.  It  consisted  of 
forty  members,  only  six  of  whom  were  min- 
isters. Knox  was  one  of  these ;  and  he  con- 
tinued to  sit  in  most  of  its  meetings,  until  the 
time  of  his  death.  It  is  a  singular  circum- 
stance, that  there  were  seven  different  meet- 
ings of  the  Assembly,  without  a  president,  or 
moderator.  But  as  the  number  of  members 
increased,  and  business  became  more  compli- 
cated, a  moderator  was  resolved  to  be  chosen, 
at  every  meeting.  He  was  invested  with 
authority  to  maintain  order;  and  regulations 
were  enacted,  concerning  the  constituent  mem- 
bers of  the  court,  the  kind  of  cases  which 
should  come  before  them,  and  the  order  of 
procedure. 

In  the  close  of  this  year,  our  reformer  suf- 
fered a  heavy  domestic  loss,  by  the  death  of 
his   valuable  wife;  who,  after  sharing  in  the 


164  THE  LIFE  OF 

hardships  of  her  husband^s  exile,  was  removed 
from  him  when  he  had  obtained  a  comfortable 
settlement  for  his  family.  He  was  left  with 
the  charge  of  two  young  children,  in  addition 
to  his  other  cares.  His  mother-in-law,  how- 
ever, was  still  with  him,  but  although  he  found 
pleasure  in  her  religious  conversation,  yet  the 
dejection  of  mind  to  which  she  was  subject, 
and  which  all  his  efibrts  could  never  complete- 
ly relieve,  rather  increased  than  lightened  his 
burden.  His  acute  feelings  were  severely 
wounded  by  this  stroke;  but  he  endeavoured 
to  moderate  his  grief  by  the  consolations 
which  he  administered  to  others,  and  by  assi- 
duous application  to  public  duties.  He  had 
the  satisfaction  of  receiving  on  the  occasion, 
a  letter  from  his  much  respected  friend,  Cal- 
vin, in  which  expressions  of  great  esteem  for 
his  deceased  partner,  were  mingled  with  con- 
dolence for  his  loss.  And  here  it  may  be 
proper  to  remark,  that  Knox,  with  the  consent 
of  his  brethren,  consulted  the  Genevan  refor- 
mer on  several  difficult  questions  which  oc- 
curred respecting  the  settlement  of  the  Scottish 
Reformation,  and  that  a  number  of  letters  pass- 
ed between  them  on  this  subject. 


JOHN  KNOX.  165 

Although  the  Reformation  had  gone  on  as 
successfully  as  he  could  reasonably  have  hoped, 
yet  Knox  saw  that  affairs  were  still  in  a  criti- 
cal situation.  There  was  a  large  body  of  peo- 
ple in  the  country,  who  were  strongly  opposed 
to  all  that  had  been  done,  and  only  waited  for 
a  favourable  opportunity  to  endeavour  to  over- 
throw the  Reformation.  The  treaty  by  which 
peace  had  been  obtained,  Mary  and  her  hus- 
band, the  King  of  France,  refused  to  ratify, 
and  dismissed  the  deputy  sent  by  the  parlia- 
ment, with  marks  of  the  highest  displeasure, 
on  account  of  the  innovations  which  they  had 
introduced.  A  new  army  was  preparing  in 
France,  for  the  invasion  of  Scotland  in  the 
spring.  Emissaries  were  sent  into  the  coun- 
try to  encourage  and  unite  the  Roman  Catho- 
lics. And  it  was  doubtful  whether  the  Queen 
of  England  would  subject  herself  to  new  ex- 
pense and  odium,  by  protecting  them  against 
a  second  attack.  The  watchful  mind  of  Knox 
perceived  the  threatening  danger,  and  endea- 
voured to  prepare  the  people  for  the  contest; 
especially,  exciting  them  speedil}'^  to  complete 
the  settlement  of  religion  throughout  the  king- 
dom, which  he  was  persuaded  would  prove 

15* 


166  THE  LIFE  OF 

the  principal  bulwark  against  the  assaults  of 
their  adversaries.  And  many  now  listened  to 
his  admonitions  who  formerly  treated  them 
with  indifference. 

The  threatened  storm,  however,  blew  over 
in  consequence  of  the  death  of  the  French 
King.  This  led  necessarily  to  a  measure 
which  involved  the  Scottish  Protestants  in  a 
new  struggle ;  for  now  the  Protestant  nobility 
gave  an  invitation  to  their  young  Queen  to 
come  over,  which  she  did  on  the  19th  of  Au- 
gust, and  assumed  the  reins  of  government 
into  her  own  hands. 

The  education  which  Mary  had  received  in 
France,  whatever  embellishments  it  added  to 
her  person  and  manners,  was  the  very  worst 
which  can  be  conceived,  for  fitting  her  to  rule 
in  her  native  country,  in  the  present  juncture. 
Of  a  temper,  naturally  violent,  and  accustom- 
ed as  she  was  to  flattery,  she  was  incapable 
of  bearing  contradiction.  Habituated  to  the 
splendour  and  gallantry  of  the  most  luxurious 
court  in  Europe,  she  could  not  submit  to  those 
restraints  which  the  severe  manners  of  her 
subjects  imposed.  And  while  the  freedom  of 
her  manners  gave  offence  to  them,  she  could 


JOHN  KNOX.  X67 

not  conceal  the  antipathy  and  disgust  which 
she  felt  at  theirs.  Full  of  high  notions  of 
royal  prerogative,  she  regarded  the  late  pro- 
ceedings in  Scotland,  as  a  course  of  rebellion 
against  her  authority.  Every  means  had  been 
used  before  she  left  France,  to  strengthen  her 
attachment  to  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  in 
which  she  had  been  educated  from  her  infancy, 
and  to  inspire  her  with  aversion  to  the  reli- 
gion which  had  been  embraced  by  her  sub- 
jects. She  was  taught  that  it  would  be  the 
greatest  glory  of  her  reign,  to  reduce  her  king- 
dom to  obedience  to  the  Romish  See,  and  co- 
operate with  the  popish  princes  on  the  conti- 
nent in  extirpating  heresy.  If  she  forsook 
the  religion  in  which  she  had  been  educated, 
she  would  forfeit  their  powerful  favour;  but  if 
she  persevered  in  it,  she  might  depend  on  their 
assistance  to  enable  her  to  chastise  her  rebel- 
lious subjects,  and  prosecute  her  claims  to  the 
crown  of  England  against  a  heretical  usurper. 
With  these  fixed  prepossessions  Mary  came 
into  Scotland:  and  she  adhered  to  them,  with 
singular  pertinacity,  to  the  end  of  her  life. 
As,  however,  the  Protestants  were  in  power, 
she  found  it  expedient  to  temporize;  but  she 


168  THE  LIFE  OP 

resolved  to  withhold  her  ratification  of  the  late 
proceedings,  and  to  embrace  the  first  favoura- 
ble opportunity  to  overturn  them  and  to  estab- 
lish the  ancient  system.  Her  reception  was 
flattering;  but  an  event  soon  occurred  to  damp 
her  joy,  and  which  prognosticated  future  jea- 
lousies and  confusion.  Resolved  to  let  her 
subjects  know  her  determination  to  adhere  to 
the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  she  directed  pre- 
parations to  be  made  for  the  celebration  of 
mass  in  the  chapel  of  Holyrood-house,  on  the 
first  Sunday  after  her  arrival.  The  first  ru- 
mour of  this  spread  such  horror  and  alarm 
among  the  people,  that  it  was  with  the  greatest 
exertion  that  the  Protestant  leaders  and  minis- 
ters were  able  to  prevent  a  public  tumult  and 
riot.  Knox  exerted  his  influence  on  the  occa- 
sion to  prevent  disorder,  but  he  was  not  less 
alarmed  at  the  precedent  than  his  brethren, 
and  on  the  very  next  Sabbath  exposed  the  evil 
of  idolatry. 

At  this  day  the  alarm  and  intolerant  feelings 
of  the  Protestants  may  appear  strange  and  un- 
reasonable; but  they  knew  too  well  the  cruelty 
and  persecuting  spirit  of  the  Romish  Church 
at  that  time,  to  be  in  any  doubt  what  the  con- 


JOHN  KNOX.  159 

sequences  would  be,  if  that  religion  should 
gain  the  predominance  again  in  Scotland.  In 
using  every  exertion,  therefore,  to  oppose  its 
ascendancy,  was  no  more  than  taking  neces- 
sary measures  for  their  own  preservation. 
They  had  fresh  in  their  memory,  the  cruelties 
practised  by  Mary  of  England,  against  the 
Protestants;  and  they  had  also  before  their 
eyes,  the  severities  against  the  Protestants  in 
every  country  on  the  continent,  where  the 
government  was  under  the  influence  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  religion.  To  expect  a  spirit 
of  toleration  in  such  circumstances,  is  an  un- 
reasonable thing.  It  is  therefore  unnecessary 
to  apologize  for  the  restrictions  which  the  re- 
formers were  desirous  of  imposing  on  Queen 
Mary,  in  regard  to  the  public  exercise  of  the 
popish  religion.  Besides  his  fears  for  the 
common  cause,  Knox  had  good  reason  to  ap- 
prehend danger  to  his  own  life.  The  Queen 
was  peculiarly  incensed  against  him,  on  ac- 
count of  the  active  hand  which  he  had  in  the 
revolution.  The  popish  clergy  who  had  left 
the  kingdom,  represented  him  as  the  ring- 
leader of  her  factious  subjects;  and  she  hid, 
before  she  left  France,  signified  her  determi- 


170  THE  LIFE  OF 

nation  that  he  should  be  punished.  His  book 
against  female  rulers,  was  also  remembered 
against  him  by  the  Queen,  as  it  had  been  by 
Elizabeth.  But  although  Knox  knew  that  he 
would  probably  be  obnoxious  to  the  displea- 
sure of  the  Queen,  yet  he  said  not  a  word  to 
prevent  her  being  invited  into  Scotland;  on 
the  contrary,  he  concurred  with  his  brethren 
in  this  measure,  and  in  defeating  a  scheme  of 
the  Duke  of  Castleherault,  under  the  direction 
of  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrews,  for  exclu- 
ding her  from  the  government.  And  contrary 
to  the  opinion  of  some,  Knox  was  willing  that 
the  Queen  should  have  the  liberty  of  having 
mass  celebrated  in  her  own  private  chapel. 

Soon  after  her  arrival,  Mary  sent  for  Knox, 
to  the  palace,  and  held  a  long  conversation 
with  him,  in  the  presence  of  her  brother,  the 
prior  of  St.  Andrews.  She  seems  to  have  ex- 
pected to  awe  him  into  submission  by  her 
authority,  if  not  to  confound  him  by  her  argu- 
ments. But  the  bold  freedom  with  which  he 
replied  to  all  her  charges,  and  vindicated  his 
own  conduct,  convinced  her  that  the  one  ex- 
pectation was  not  more  vain  than  the  other; 
and  the  impression  which  she  wished  to  make 


JOHN  KNOX.  171 

on  him,  was  left  on  her  own  mind.  She 
accused  him  of  exciting  her  subjects  against 
her  mother  and  herself;  of  writing  a  book 
against  her  just  authority;  of  being  the  cause 
of  sedition  and  bloodshed,  when  he  was  in 
England;  and  of  accomplishing  his  purposes 
by  magical  arts. 

To  these  heavy  charges,  Knox  replied,  that 
if  to  teach  the  truth  of  God  in  sincerity,  to  re- 
buke idolatry,  and  to  teach  the  people  to 
worship  God  according  to  his  word,  were  to 
excite  subjects  to  rise  against  their  princes, 
then  he  stood  convicted  of  the  charge;  for  it 
had  pleased  God  to  employ  him,  among  others, 
to  disclose  unto  that  realm  the  vanity  of  the 
papistical  religion,  with  the  deceits,  pride,  and 
tyranny  of  the  Roman  antichrist.  But  if  the 
true  knowledge  of  God,  and  his  right  worship, 
were  the  most  powerful  inducements  to  sub- 
jects cordially  to  obey  their  princes,  (as  they 
certainly  were,)  then,  he  was  innocent.  Her 
grace,  he  was  persuaded,  had  at  present,  as 
unfeigned  obedience  from  the  Protestants  of 
Scotland,  as  ever  her  father,  or  any  of  her 
ancestors  had  from  those  called  bishops.  With 
respect  to  what  had  been  reported  to  her  ma- 


172  THE  LIFE  OF 

jesty,  of  the  fruits  of  his  preaching,  in  England, 
he  was  glad  that  his  enemies  laid  nothing  to 
his  charge,  but  what  the  world  would  know  to 
be  false.  If  any  of  them  could  prove  that,  in 
any  of  the  places  where  he  had  resided,  there 
was  either  sedition  or  mutiny,  he  would  con- 
fess himself  to  be  a  malefactor.  So  far  from  this 
being  the  case,  he  was  not  ashamed  to  say, 
that  in  Berwick,  where  bloodshed  among  the 
soldiers  had  been  common,  God  so  blessed  his 
weak  labours,  that  there  was  as  great  quietness, 
during  the  time  he  resided  there,  as  there  was 
at  present  in  Edinburg.  The  slander  of  prac- 
tising magic,  (an  art  which  he  had  condemned 
wherever  he  preached,)  he  could  more  easily 
bear,  when  he  recollected  that  his  Master,  the 
Lord  Jesus,  had  been  defamed  as  being  in 
league  with  Beelzebub.  As  to  the  book,  which 
seemed  so  highly  to  offend  her  majesty,  he 
owned  that  he  wrote  it,  and  was  willing  that 
all  the  world  should  judge  of  it.  He  under- 
stood that  an  Englishman  had  written  an 
answer,  but  he  had  not  read  it.  If  he  had 
sufficiently  confuted  his  arguments,  and  esta- 
blished the  contrary  propositions,  he  would 
confess  his  error;  but  to  that  hour  he  consi- 


JOHN  KNOX.  173 

dered  himself  alone  more  able  to  sustain  the 
things  affirmed  in  that  book,  than  any  ten  in 
Europe  were  to  confute  them. 

"  You  think  I  have  no  authority/^  said  the 
Queen.  "  Please  your  majesty/^  replied  he, 
*'learned  men,  in  all  ages,  have  had  their  judg- 
ments free,  and  most  commonly  disagreeing 
from  the  common  judgments  of  the  world. 
Such  also  have  they  published  with  pen  and 
tongue;  notwithstanding  they  themselves  have 
lived  in  the  common  society  with  others,  and 
have  borne  patiently  with  the  errors  and  im- 
perfections which  they  could  not  amend. 
Plato,  the  philosopher,  wrote  his  book  of  the 
"  Commonwealth,"  in  which  he  condemned 
many  things  that  were  then  maintained  in  the 
world,  and  required  many  things  to  be  reform- 
ed; and  yet  he  lived  under  such  policies  as 
were  then  universally  received,  without  fur- 
ther troubling  the  state.  Even  so,  madam, 
am  I  content  to  do  in  uprightnessof  heart,  and 
with  the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience." 
He  added,  that  his  sentiments,  on  that  subject, 
should  be  confined  to  his  own  breast;  and 
that,  if  she  refrained  from  persecution,  her 
authority  would  not  be  hurt  by  him,  or  his 

16 


174  THE  LIFE  OF 

book,  "  which  was  written  most  especially 
against  the  wicked  Jezebel  of  England." 
*^But  you  speak  of  women  in  general,"  said 
the  Queen.  "  Most  true  it  is,  madam,  it  ap- 
peareth  to  me,  that  wisdom  should  persuade 
your  grace  never  to  raise  trouble  from  that 
which  to  this  day  has  never  troubled  your 
majesty,  neither  in  person  nor  authority;  for 
of  late,  many  things  which  before  were  stable, 
have  been  called  in  doubt,  yea,  they  have 
been  plainly  impugned.  But  yet,  madam,  I 
am  assured,  that  neither  Protestant  nor  papist 
shall  be  able  to  prove,  that  any  such  quotation 
was  at  any  time  made,  either  in  public  or 
in  secret.  Now,  madam,  if  I  had  intended  to 
trouble  your  estate,  because  you  are  a  woman, 
I  would  have  chosen  a  thing  more  convenient 
for  that  purpose,  than  I  can  now  do,  when 
your  presence  is  within  the  realm." 

Changing  the  subject,  she  charged  him  with 
having  taught  the  people  to  receive  a  religion 
different  from  that  followed  by  their  princes; 
and  asked  him  if  this  was  not  contrary  to  the 
divine  command,  that  subjects  should  obey 
their  rulers?  He  replied,  that  true  religion 
derived    not    its    authority  from  princes,  but 


JOHN  KNOX.  175 

from  the  eternal  God ;  that  princes  were  often 
most  ignorant  of  the  true  religion;  and  that 
subjects  were  not  bound  to  frame  their  religion 
according  to  the  arbitrary  will  of  their  rulers, 
else  the  Israelites  would  have  been  bound  to 
adopt  the  religion  of  Pharaoh;  Daniel  and  his 
associates  that  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  and  Darius; 
and  the  primitive  Christians  that  of  the  Roman 
emperors.  "  Yea,"  replied  the  Queen,  "  but 
none  of  these  men  raised  the  sword  against 
princes.'^  "  Yet  you  cannot  deny,"  said  he, 
"  that  they  resisted,  for  those  who  obey  not 
the  commandments  given  them,  do  in  some 
sort  resist."  "  But  they  resisted  not  with  the 
sword,"  rejoined  the  Queen,  pressing  home  the 
argument.  "  God  had  not  given  unto  them 
the  power  and  the  means."  "  Think  you," 
said  the  Queen,  "  that  subjects,  having  the 
power,  may  resist  their  princes?"  "If  princes, 
madam,  exceed  their  bounds,  no  doubt  they 
may  be  resisted,  by  power.  For  no  greater 
honour,  and  no  greater  obedience  is  to  be 
given  to  kings  and  princes,  than  God  has 
commanded  to  be  given  to  father  and  mother. 
But  the  father  may  be  seized  with  a  phrenzy, 
in  which  he  would  slay  his  children.     Now, 


176  THE  LIFE  OP 

madam,  if  the  children  arise,  join  together, 
apprehend  the  father,  and  take  the  sword  from 
him,  bind  his  hands,  and  keep  him  in  prison, 
till  the  phrenzy  be  over,  think  you,  madam, 
that  the  children  do  any  wrong  ?  Even  so, 
madam,  is  it  with  princes  that  would  murder 
the  children  of  God,  that  are  subject  unto  them. 
Their  blind  zeal  is  nothing  but  a  mad  phrenzy; 
therefore,  to  take  the  sword  from  them,  to  bind 
their  hands,  and  to  cast  them  into  prison,  till 
they  be  brought  to  a  more  sober  mind,  is  no 
disobedienceagairtstprinces,but  just  obedience, 
because  it  agreeth  with  the  will  of  God." 

The  Queen,  who  had  hitherto  maintained 
her  courage  in  reasoning,  appeared  to  be  con- 
founded and  overpowered  by  this  bold  answer ; 
and  for  a  while  continued  silent.  At  length 
she  said,  "  Well  then,  I  perceive,  that  my 
subjects  shall  obey  you  and  not  me,  and  will 
do  what  they  please  and  not  what  I  command, 
and  so  must  I  be  subject  to  them,  and  not  they 
to  me."  "God  forbid,"  answered  Knox,  that 
I  can  take  it  upon  me,  to  command  any  to 
obey  me,  or  to  set  subjects  at  liberty  to  do 
whatever  they  please;  but  my  meaning  is, 
that  both  princes  and   subjects  should    obey 


JOHN  KNOX.  177 

God.  And  think  not,  madam,  that  wrong  is 
done  you,  when  you  are  required  to  be  sub- 
ject to  God;  for  it  is  He,  who  subjects  people 
unto  princes,  and  causes  obedience  to  be  given 
unto  them.  He  demands  of  kings  that  they 
be  as /osier  fathers  to  his  Church,  and  com- 
mands queens,  to  be  nurses  to  his  people. 
And  this  subjection  unto  God,  madam,  is  the 
best  thing  that  flesh  can  get  upon  the  face  of 
the  earth,  for  it  shall  raise  them  to  everlasting 
glory.'^  "  But  you  are  not  the  church,"  said 
the  Queen,  "  that  I  will  nourish.  I  will  de- 
fend the  Church  of  Rome,  for  it  is,  I  think, 
the  true  church  of  God."  "  Your  will,  Madam, 
is  no  reason;  neither  doth  your  thought  make 
the  Roman  harlot  to  be  the  true  and  immacu- 
late spouse  of  Jesus  Christ.  Wonder  not, 
madam,  that  I  call  Rome  a  harlot,  for  that 
church  is  altogether  polluted  with  all  kinds  oi 
spiritual  fornication."  He  added,  that  he  was 
ready  to  prove,  that  the  Romish  Church  had 
departed  farther  from  the  purity  of  religion, 
taught  by  the  apostles,  than  the  Jewish  Church 
had  degenerated  from  the  ordinances  which 
God  gave  them  by  Moses  and  Aaron,  at  the 
time  when  they  denied  and  crucified  the  Son 

16* 


178  THE  LIFE  OP 

of  God.  "My  conscience  is  not  so,"  said  the 
Queen.  "  Conscience,  madam,  requires  know- 
ledge; and  I  fear,  that  right  knowledge  you 
have  none."  She  said,  she  had  both  heard 
and  read.  *^  So,  madam,  did  the  Jews,  who 
crucified  Christ.  They  read  the  law  and  the 
prophets,  and  heard  them  interpreted,  after 
their  manner.  Have  you  heard  any  teach,  but 
such  as  the  pope  and  the  cardinals  allowed  ? 
And  you  may  be  assured  that  such  will  speak 
nothing  to  offend  their  own  estate."  "You 
interpret  the  Scriptures,  one  way,"  said  the 
Queen,  warmly,  "  and  they  in  another,  whom 
shall  I  believe  and  who  will  judge?"  "  You 
should  believe  God,  who  speaketh  plainly  in 
his  word"  replied  the  reformer.  "  And  further, 
the  word  teacheth  you,  that  you  shall  believe 
neither  the  one  nor  the  other.  The  word  of 
God  is  plain  in  itself,  and  if  there  is  any  ob- 
scurity in  one  place,  the  Holy  Ghost  who  is 
never  contrary  to  himself,  explains  it  more 
clearly  in  other  places,  so  that  there  can  re- 
main no  doubt,  but  unto  such  as  are  obstinate- 
ly ignorant."  As  an  example  he  referred  to 
the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  to  show 
that  the  mass  was  destitute  of  all  foundation. 


JOHN  KNOX.  179 

But  the  Queen,  who  was  determined  to  avoid 
all  discussion  of  the  articles  of  her  faith,  in- 
terrupted him,  saying  that  she  was  unable  to 
contend  with  him,  in  argument,  but  if  she  had 
some  of  those  present  whom  she  had  heard, 
they  would  answer  him.  "  Madam,  replied 
the  reformer,  "  would  to  God  that  the  learn- 
edest  papist  in  Europe,  were  present  with 
your  grace  to  sustain  the  argument,  and  that 
you  would  wait  patiently  to  hear  the  matter 
reasoned  to  the  end,  for  I  then  doubt  not  you 
would  hear  the  vanity  of  the  papistical  religion, 
and  how  little  ground  it  hath  in  the  word  of 
God.  "  Well"  said  she,  "  you  may  perchance, 
get  that  sooner  than  you  believe."  "  Assur- 
redly,  if  I  can  get  that  in  my  life,  I  get  it 
sooner  than  I  believe;  for  the  ignorant  papist 
cannot  patiently  reason;  and  the  learned  and 
crafty  papist  will  never  come  in  your  pre- 
sence, madam,  to  have  the  ground  of  their 
religion  searched  out.  When  you  shall  let 
me  see  the  contrary,  I  shall  grant  myself  to 
have  been  deceived  in  that  point." 

The  hour  of  dinner  aflforded  the  occasion  of 
breaking  off  this  singular  conversation.  The 
papists  were  alarmed  when  they  heard  of  this 


180  THE  LIFE  OF 

long  interview  with  Knox,  lest  his  eloquence 
should  have  shaken  the  faith  of  the  Queen; 
and  the  Protestants,  on  the  contrary,  were  dis- 
posed to  indulge  favourable  anticipations  of 
the  result.  But  Knox  himself,  saw  clearly 
that  the  Queen  was  deeply  fixed  in  her  errors, 
and  was  not  likely  to  be  moved  by  any  thing 
which  might  be  said  in  her  hearing.  And  his 
determination  was,  to  watch  her  motions,  and 
to  find  out  her  plans  of  opposition  to  the  Refor- 
mation; so  that  he  might  have  it  in  his  power 
to  give  seasonable  warning  of  them  to  the 
friends  of  the  Reformation. 

The  sermons  of  Knox  were  very  powerful, 
though  delivered  in  what,  to  many,  appeared 
harsh   language.      He  was  not  ignorant   that 
some  of  his  friends  thought  him  too  severe; 
nor  was  he  disposed  to  vindicate  every  expres- 
sion which  he  used;    but  he  was  of  opinion 
that   the   times   required    great    plainness   oi 
speech,  and  that   under  the   smoothness  anc' 
sweetness  of  manner,  recommended  by  some 
that  snares  lurked.     The  abatement  of  zeal  ir 
many,  through  the  influence  of  the  court,  be 
came  more  and  more  manifest  every  day,  and 
extended  to  some  of  the  Protestant  leaders. 


JOHN  KNOX.  181 

The  Queen  was  greatly  opposed  to  the  Ge- 
neral Assembly,  and  at  the  first  meeting,  after 
her  arrival,  the  courtiers,  through  her  influ- 
ence, absented  themselves;  and  when  chal- 
lenged for  their  delinquency,  began  to  dispute 
the  propriety  of  such  conventions  without  her 
Majesty's  pleasure. 

Rnox  was  exceedingly  indignant  when  he 
heard  of  the  management  of  the  court,  in  re- 
gard to  settling  a  provision  for  the  ministers. 
Hitherto  they  had  been  supported  by  the  vo- 
luntary contributions  of  the  people;  but  some 
of  them  were  almost  left  to  starve.  The  Pri- 
vy Council,  in  consequence  of  repeated  com- 
plaints on  this  subject,  took  up  the  matter  and 
agreed  to  divide  the  ecclesiastical  revenues 
into  three  parts,  two  of  which  were  allotted  to 
the  popish  clergy,  and  the  remaining  third  to  be 
divided  between  the  court  and  the  Protestant 
ministers.  The  portion  allowed  to  the  minis- 
ters being  at  the  disposal  of  the  Queen's  offi- 
cers, was  as  badly  paid  as  it  was  paltry  in 
amount.  Knox  was  open  mouthed  and  vehe- 
ment against  this  ungenerous  management. 
"  If,"  said  he,  "  this  order,  pretended  to  be  for 
the  sustentation  of  the  ministers,  be  happy  in 


182  THE  LIFE  OF 

the  issue,  my  judgment  fails  me.  I  see  two 
parts  freely  given  to  the  devil,  and  the  third 
may  be  divided  betwixt  God  and  the  devil. 
Who  would  have  thought  that  when  Joseph 
ruled  in  Egypt,  his  brethren  should  have  tra- 
vellit,  (suffered,)  for  victuals,  and  have  re- 
turned with  empty  sacks  unto  their  families?" 
"0  happy  servants  of  the  devil,  and  miserable 
servants  of  Jesus  Christ,  if  after  this  life,  there 
were  not  hell  and  heaven.'^  He  did  not  com- 
plain with  any  reference  to  his  own  case,  for 
in  comparison  with  others,  he  was  well  pro- 
vided for,  having  settled  on  him  a  salary  of 
two  hundred  pounds  per  annum,  besides  house- 
rent  free,  and  liberal  presents  from  the  people. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1562,  our  re- 
former went  to  Angus,  to  preside  at  the  elec- 
tion and  admission  of  his  old  friend  John  Ers- 
kine,  of  Dun,  as  superintendent  of  Angus  and 
Mearns.  This  pious  and  respectable  baror- 
was  one,  whom  the  General  Assembly  had 
declared  "apt  and  able  to  minister,"  and  hav- 
ing already  contributed  much  aid  to  advance 
the  Reformation,  he  now  devoted  himself  to 
the  service  of  the  Church,  in  a  laborious  em- 
ployment, at  a  time  when  she  stood  eminently 


JOHN  KNOX.  183 

in  need  of  the  assistance  of  all  the  learned  and 
pious.  He  had  before  this  presided  at  the 
installation  of  John  Spottisvvood  to  the  same 
office  in  Lothian. 

The  influence  which  Knox  had  over  all 
classes  of  persons  is  evident,  from  the  fact  of 
his  having  been  frequently  applied  to,  to  settle 
differences  of  a  civil  kind,  among  the  leaders 
of  the  Reformation. 

In  May,  1562,  Knox  was  again  called  to 
appear  before  tiie  Queen,  for  a  sermon,  in 
which  he  had  spoken  with  severity  against 
the  Duke  of  Guise,  for  attacking  a  Protestant 
congregation  in  France,  while  at  worship,  and 
murdering  a  number  of  the  defenceless  people. 
When  the  news  of  this  reached  the  Queen, 
she  gave  a  splendid  ball  to  her  foreign  servants, 
at  which  the  dancing  was  prolonged  to  a  late 
hour.  Knox  took  occasion  to  speak  of  the 
vices  of  princes,  and  animadverted  severely 
on  the  cruelty  of  the  French  princes,  of  which 
an  exaggerated  account  was  conveyed  to  the 
Queen. 

He  appeared  in  her  presence,  without  the 
least  dismay,  and  told  her  that,  if  she  had 
heard   the   discourse,  he    was  persuaded   she 


184  '^HE  LIFE   OF 

could  not  have  found  fault  with  what  was  said, 
and  undertook  to  repeat  to  her,  as  nearly  as 
he  , could,  the  very  words  spoken,  which,  she 
admitted,  were  very  different  from  those  re- 
])orted  to  her.  He  told  her,  at  this  time,  that 
he  could  wish  that  she  would  be  pleased  to 
come  in  person  and  hear  what  he  preached; 
or  if  that  was  reckoned  unsuitable,  if  she  would 
appoint  him  a  time,  he  would  take  pleasure  in 
communicating;  to  her  the  substance  of  the 
doctrine  which  he  preached.  When  he  was 
leaving  the  room,  some  of  the  popish  courtiers 
said  in  his  hearing,  "He  is  not  afraid;"  "Why 
should  the  pleasing  face  of  a  gentlewoman 
affray  me?  I  have  looked  in  the  faces  of  many 
angry  men,  and  yet  have  not  been  afifrayed 
above  measure." 

At  this  time,  there  was  but  one  church  in 
Edinburg,  St.  Giles's,  where  Knox  preached, 
sometimes,  to  three  thousand  persons;  and  he 
laboured  here  with  no  other  assistance  than 
that  of  John  Cairns,  who  acted  as  a  reader. 
His  custom  was  to  preach  twice  every  Sabbath, 
and  three  times  during  the  week.  He  met 
his  session  once  every  week,  and  also  attended 
the  meetings  for  weekly  exercise  in,  studying 


JOHN  KNOX.  185 

the  Scriptures.  He  attended,  besides,  the 
meetings  of  the  Provincial  Synod  and  General 
Assembly;  at  almost  every  meeting  of  which, 
he  received  an  appointment  to  preach  in  some 
distant  part  of  the  country.  These  labours 
must  have  been  oppressive  to  a  constitution 
already  impaired;  and  his  sermons  were  not 
mere  extemporaneous  efifusions,  but  the  fruit 
of  regular  study,  for  he  devoted  a  part  of  every 
day  to  his  books.  His  congregation  became 
sensible  that  his  labours  were  too  heavy  for 
his  shoulders;  and,  therefore,  in  April,  1562 
the  town  council  came  to  a  unanimous  resolu- 
tion to  solicit  John  Craig,  the  minister  of 
Holyrood  House,  to  undertake  the  half  of  the 
charge.  The  ensuing  General  Assembly  ap- 
proved of  the  council's  proposal,  and  translated 
Craig  to  Edinburg.  This,  however,  did  not 
take  place  until  June,  1563,  owing  to  some 
difficulty  in  settling  the  stipend  for  his  sup- 
port. 

The  activity  and  energy  of  Knox,  in  con- 
firming the  minds  of  the  Protestants  in  the 
west,  whither  the  General  Assembly  had  sent 
him,  on  occasion  of  the  rising  of  the  papists, 
under   Huntly,  in  the   north,  were   attended 

17 


186  THE  LIFE  OP 

with  the    happiest  effects,  in   composing  the 
minds  of  the  people. 

His  dispute  with  Quintin  Kennedy,  respect- 
ing the  mass,  is  entertaining,  and  is  very 
particularly  related  by  Dr.  M'Crie,  but  is  too 
long  for  our  purpose.  Indeed,  Knox  himself 
published  an  account  of  the  controversy,  taken 
from  the  notaries  who  took  down  what  was 
spoken  on  one  side  and  the  other.  It  is  the 
substance  of  this  pamphlet  which  Dr.  M'Crie 
has  inserted  in  his  ^'  Life  of  Knox.''  The 
brevity  which  we  study  in  this  compend,  also 
renders  it  necessary  to  omit  several  other 
transactions  in  which  Knox  bore  a  conspicuous 
part,  but  which  cannot  be  narrated,  without 
going  further  into  the  Scottish  history  of  those 
times  than  would  be  suitable  for  our  work. 

The  first  parliament  which  met  after  the 
arrival  of  the  Queen  in  Scotland,  although 
they  confirmed  some  of  the  acts  of  the  former 
parliament,  yet  they  omitted  to  sanction  the 
treaty  which  had  been  entered  into  with  the 
French;  and,  indeed,  passed  some  laws  which 
implied  that  that  instrument  was  destitute  of 
validity. 

Knox,  upon  being  informed  of  these  things, 


JOHN  KNOX.  187 

was  thunderstruck,  and  could  scarcely  give  cre- 
dit to  the  report.  He  immediately  procured  an 
interview  with  some  of  the  principal  members 
of  parliament,  to  whom  he  represented  the 
danger  of  allowing  that  meeting  to  dissolve, 
without  obtaining  a  ratification  of  the  acts  of 
the  preceding  parliament;  or  at  least  those 
acts  which  established  the  Reformation.  They 
alleged  that  the  Queen  would  never  have  con- 
sented to  call  this  meeting,  if  they  had  per- 
sisted in  these  demands;  but  there  was  a  pros- 
pect of  her  speedy  marriage,  and  then  they 
would  obtain  all  their  wishes.  In  vain  he 
reminded  them,  that  poets  and  painters  had 
represented  occasion  bald  behind;  in  vain  he 
urged,  that,  the  event  to  which  they  looked 
forward  would  be  attended  with  difficulties  of 
its  own,  which  would  require  all  their  skill 
and  circumspection.  Their  determination  was 
fixed.  He  now  perceived  the  full  extent  of 
the  Queen's  dissimulation,  and  the  selfishness 
and  servility  of  the  Protestant  leaders  affected 
him  deeply.  So  hot  was  the  altercation  be- 
tween him  and  the  Earl  of  Murray  on  this 
subject,  that  an  open  rupture  ensued.  He  had 
long  looked  upon  that  nobleman,  as  one  of  the 


188  THE  LIFE   OF 

most  steady  and  sincere  adherents  of  the  re- 
formed cause,  and  therefore  felt  the  greater 
disappointment  at  his  conduct.  After  parting 
witii  Murray,  Knox  wrote  him  a  letter,  in 
which,  after  recounting  various  circumstances, 
he  solemnly  renounced  friendship  with  a  man 
who  preferred  his  own  interest,  and  the  plea- 
sure of  his  sister,  the  Queen,  to  the  advance- 
ment of  religion.  He  left  him  henceforward 
to  the  guidance  of  the  new  counsellors  whom 
he  had  chosen,  and  exonerated  himself  from 
all  future  concern  in  his  affairs.  This  variance, 
which  lasted  for  two  years,  was  very  gratify- 
ing to  the  Queen,  who  disliked  their  former 
familiarity,  and  failed  not,  as  Knox  says,  "  to 
cast  oil  on  the  flame,  until  God  did  quench  it 
by  the  water  of  affliction." 

Before  the  dissolution  of  the  parliament, 
Knox  found  an  opportunity  of  disburdening 
his  mind  in  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of 
the  members  who  attended  on  his  preaching. 
In  his  sermon,  he  addressed  himself  particu- 
larly to  the  nobility;  and  praised  God,  that  he 
had  an  opportunity  of  pouring  out  the  sorrows 
of  his  heart  in  their  presence,  who  could  attest 
the  truth  of  all  which  he  said.     He  appealed 


JOHN  KNOX.  X89 

to  their  consciences,  whether  he  had  not,  in 
their  greatest  extremities   exhorted  them   to 
depend  on  God;  and  assured  them  of  preser- 
vation and  victory  if  they  preferred  his  glory 
to  their  own  lives  and  secular  interests.     "  I 
have,"  said  he,  "  been  with  you  in  your  most 
desperate  temptations,  and  in  your  most  ex- 
treme dangers  I  have  been  with  you.    St.  John- 
ston, Cupar-Moor,  and  the  Craggs  of  Edin- 
burg,  are  yet  recent  in  my  heart;    yea,   the 
dark  and  dolorous  night  wherein,  all  ye,  my 
lords,  with  shame  and  fear  left  this  town,  is 
yet  in  my  mind;  and  God  forbid  that  I  ever 
forget  it!  What  was,  I  say,  my  exhortation  to 
you,  and  what  has  fallen  in  vain  of  all  that  ever 
God  promised  unto  you  by  my  mouth.'*  Ye, 
yourselves  yet  live  to  testify.     There  is  not 
one  of  you,  against  whom  death  and  destruc- 
tion was  threatened,  that  has  perished;  and  how 
many  of  your  enemies  has  God  plagued  before 
your  eyes?  Shall  this  be  the  thankfulness  that 
ye  shall  render  unto  your  God  ?  to  betray  his 
cause  when  you  have  it  in  your  hands  to  es- 
tablish it  as  you  please?"  He  saw  nothing,  he 
said,  but  a  cowardly  desertion  of  Christ's  stand- 
ard.    Some  had  even  the  effrontery  to  say, 

17* 


190  THE  LIFE  OF 

that  they  had  neither  law  nor  parliament  for 
their  religion.  They  had  the  authority  of 
God  for  their  religion,  the  truth  of  which  was 
independent  of  human  laws;  but  it  was  also 
accepted  in  this  realm,  in  public  parliament; 
and  that  parliament,  he  would  maintain,  had 
been  as  lawful  as  any  ever  held  in  the  king- 
dom. In  the  conclusion  of  his  discourse,  he 
adverted  to  the  marriage  of  the  Queen,  and 
predicted  the  consequences  to  be  dreaded  if 
the  nobility  consented  that  their  sovereign 
should  marr}^  a  papist. 

Protestants,  as  well  as  papists,  were  offended 
with  the  freedom  of  this  discourse;  and  the 
Queen  was  greatly  incensed  to  think,  after  sur- 
mounting so  many  obstacles,  and  subduing  the 
spirit  of  the  barons,  there  should  be  one  man 
of  obscure  condition,  who  ventured  to  con- 
demn her  proceedings;  and  as  she  could  not 
tame  his  stubbornness,  she  determined  to  pun- 
ish his  temerity.  Knox  was  ordered  instantly 
to  appear  before  her.  Lord  Ochiltree  and 
several  gentlemen  accompanied  him  to  the 
palace,  but  Erskine  of  Dun,  superintendent  of 
Angus,  was  alone  permitted  to  go  with  him 
into  the  royal  presence. 


JOHN    KNOX.  191 

When  he  was  last  in  her  presence  at  Loch- 
levin,  she  had  treated  him  with  great  civility, 
and  even  familiarity;  but  now  her  manner  was 
entirely  changed.  After  he  entered,  her  first 
words  were,  "Never  had  any  prince  been 
handled  as  she  was.'^  And  then  spoke  of  his 
severe  censures  of  her  and  her  uncles;  saying, 
that  she  had  sought  his  favour  by  all  means, 
and  had  offered  unto  him  an  audience,  when- 
ever he  pleased  to  admonish  her.  "And  yet," 
said  she,  "  I  cannot  be  quit  of  you;  I  vow  to 
God  I  shall  be  once  revenged."  On  pronoun- 
cing these  words,  she  burst  into  a  flood  of 
tears,  which  interrupted  her  speech.  As  soon 
as  she  had  composed  herself,  Knox  proceeded 
to  make  his  defence.  He  remarked,  that  al- 
though they  had  had  frequent  controversies, 
he  had  never  before  perceived  that  she  was 
offended  with  him.  He  said,  if  she  could  only 
be  freed  from  those  errors  in  which  she  had 
been  educated,  he  trusted  that  her  majesty 
would  not  find  the  liberty  of  his  tongue  offen- 
sive. Out  of  the  pulpit,  he  thought  few  had 
occasion  to  be  offended  with  him;  but  there 
he  was  not  his  own  master,  but  bound  to  obey 
Him  who  commanded  him  to  speak  plainly, 


192  THE  LIFE  OP 

and  to  flatter  no  flesh  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 
"  But,"  said  she,  "  what  have  you  to  do  with 
my  marriage  ?  Or  what  are  you  in  this  com- 
monwealth?'^ "A  subject,  born  within  the 
same,  madam,''  replied  the  reformer;  "and 
although  I  am  neither,  earl,  lord,  nor  baron  in 
it,  yet  has  God  made  me,  (how  abject  soever 
in  your  eyes,)  a  profitable  member  of  the  same. 
Yea,  madam,  to  me  it  appertains  no  less  to 
forewarn  of  such  things  as  may  hurt  it,  than  it 
doth  to  any  of  the  nobility;  for  both  my  voca- 
tion and  conscience  require  plainness  of  me. 
And  therefore,  madam,  to  yourself  I  say,  that 
which  I  spake  in  a  public  place.  Whensoever 
the  nobility  of  this  realm  shall  consent  that  ye 
be  subject  to  an  unfaithful  husband,  they  do  as 
much  as  in  them  lies,  to  renounce  Christ,  to 
banish  his  truth  from  them,  to  betray  the  free- 
dom of  this  realm,  and  perchance  shall  in  the 
end,  do  small  comfort  to  yourself"  At  these 
words,  the  Queen  began  again  to  weep  and  sob 
with  great  bitterness.  The  superintendent, 
who  was  of  a  mild  and  gentle  spirit,  tried  to 
mitigate  her  grief  and  resentment.  He  praised 
her  beauty  and  accomplishments,  and  told  her 
that  there  was  not  a  prince  in  Europe  who 


JOHN  KNOX.  193 

would  not  reckon  himself  happy  in  having  her 
hand.  During  this  scene,  the  severe  and  in- 
flexible mind  of  the  reformer  displayed  itself. 
He  continued  silent,  and  with  unaltered  coun- 
tenance, until  the  Queen  had  given  vent  to  her 
feelings.  He  then  protested,  that  he  never 
took  delight  in  the  distress  of  any  creature;  it 
was  with  great  difficulty  he  could  see.  his  own 
boys  weep  when  he  corrected  them  for  their 
faults,  far  less  could  he  rejoice  in  her  Majes- 
ty's tears;  but  since  he  had  given  her  no  just 
reason  of  offence,  he  was  constrained,  though 
unwillingly,  to  sustain  her  tears  rather  than 
hurt  his  own  conscience,  and  betray  the  com- 
monwealth through  his  silence.  This  apology 
inflamed  the  Queen  still  more,  who  ordered 
him  immediately  to  leave  her  presence,  and 
wait  the  signification  of  her  pleasure  in  an  ad- 
joining room.  There  he  stood  as  ^'  one  whom 
men  had  never  seen;"  all  his  friends,  Lord 
Ochiltree  excepted,  being  afraid  to  show  him 
the  smallest  countenance.  In  this  situation  he 
addressed  himself  to  the  court  ladies,  who 
were  present:  "  0  ladies,  how  pleasing  were 
this  life  of  yours  if  it  should  ever  abide,  and 
that  in  the  end  you  might  pass  into  heaven 


194  THE  LIFE  OF 

with  all  this  gay  gear."  Thus  he  engaged 
them  in  conversation  until  Erskine  came  and 
informed  him,  that  he  was  allowed  to  go  home 
until  her  Majesty  had  taken  further  advice. 

The  Queen  insisted  to  know  of  the  lords  of 
Articles,  whether  the  words  uttered  in  the  ser- 
mon were  not  actionable;  but  they  persuaded 
her  to  desist  from  a  prosecution.  The  laconic 
remark  of  Knox  was,  *^and  so  that  storm  was 
quieted  in  appearance,  but  never  in  heart." 

Nothing  can  exceed  the  severity  of  cen- 
sure, which  has  been  passed  on  Knox  for  his 
insensibility  and  inhumanity,  in  remaining 
unmoved,  "  while  youth,  beauty,  and  royal 
dignity,"  were  dissolved  in  tears  before  him. 
But  while  it  may  be  admitted,  that  the  sensi- 
bilities of  our  reformer  were  not  of  the  most 
delicate  kind,  yet  who  that  knows  the  weak- 
ness of  most  men,  in  such  circumstances,  can 
withhold  admiration  and  even  veneration  from 
the  man,  whose  stern  integrity,  not  even  the 
tears  of  a  young  and  beautiful  Queen  could 
cause  to  swerve  from  the  path  of  duty? 

The  Queen  sought  every  opportunity  now 
to  be  revenged  on  Knox,  and  her  sycophants 
were  not  backward  in  seconding  her  malicious 


JOHN  KNOX.  195 

design  to  injure  the  reformer.  At  first,  a  base 
calumny  against  the  purity  of  his  moral  char- 
acter was  circulated,  by  a  certain  woman  in 
Edinburg;  but  when  a  committee  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  called  her  before  them,  she 
utterly  denied  that  she  had  ever  vented  any 
such  slander.  The  truth  of  her  having  done 
so,  was  proved  by  many  witnesses.  This 
having  failed  to  injure  his  reputation,  an  oc- 
currence took  place,  which  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  a  serious  accusation  against  him.  Some 
Protestants  being  under  accusation  for  a  riotous 
entrance  into  the  royal  chapel,  while  mass  was 
celebrated,  Knox  was  requested  to  write  a  cir- 
cular letter  to  the  principal  Protestant  gentle- 
men, to  request  their  attendance,  at  the  trial. 
This  letter  came  into  the  hands  of  Sinclair, 
bishop  of  Ross,  who  sent  it  to  the  Queen  at 
Stirling.  She  communicated  it  to  the  Privy 
Council,  who,  to  her  great  satisfaction,  pro- 
nounced it  treasonable;  but  to  give  greater 
salemnity  to  the  proceedings,  it  was  resolved, 
that  an  extraordinary  meeting  of  the  counsel- 
lors and  other  noblemen,  should  be  held  at 
Edinburg,  in  the  end  of  December,  to  try  the 


196  THE  LIFE  OF 

cause.     Before  this  convention   the  reformer 
was  summoned  to  appear. 

Previous  to  the  day  of  trial,  great  pains 
were  taken  to  intimidate  him,  and  to  induce 
him  to  acknowledge  his  fault,  and  throw 
himself  upon  the  Queen's  mercy.  This  he 
peremptorily  refused  to  do.  The  master  of 
Maxwell,  afterwards  lord  Herries,  with  whom 
he  had  long  been  intimate,  threatened  him 
with  the  loss  of  his  friendship,  and  told  him 
that  he  would  repent  of  it,  if  he  did  not  sub- 
mit to  the  Queen,  for  men  could  not  bear 
with  him  as  they  had  heretofore  done.  He 
replied,  that  he  did  not  understand  such  lan- 
guage. He  had  never  opposed  her  majesty, 
except  in  the  article  of  religion,  and  surely  it 
was  not  meant  that  he  should  bow  to  her  in 
that  matter.  If  God  stood  by  him,  which  he 
was  sure  he  would  do  as  long  as  he  confided 
in  him,  and  preferred  his  glory  to  his  own 
life,  he  regarded  little  how  men  should  behave 
towards  him;  nor  did  he  know  wherein  they 
had  borne  with  him,  unless  in  hearing  the 
word  of  God  from  his  mouth,  which  if  they 
would  reject,  he  would  mourn  for  them,  but 
the  danger  should  be  their  own. 


JOHN    KNOX.  197 

The  Earl  of  Murray  and  Secretary  Mait- 
land,  also  laboured  with  him  to  the  same  end. 
They  represented  the  pains  which  they  had 
taken  to  mitigate  the  Queen's  resentment; 
and  that  nothing  could  save  him,  but  a  timely 
submission.  He  gave  them  the  same  answer, 
that  he  would  never  confess  a  fault  when  he 
was  conscious  of  none.  That  he  had  not 
learned  to  call  every  thing  treason,  which  was 
so  called  by  the  multitude,  nor  to  fear  what 
they  feared.  The  wily  secretary  endeavoured 
to  involve  him  in  a  dispute,  that  he  might 
elicit  the  nature  of  the  defence  which  he 
meant  to  set  up;  but  Knox  was  too  discerning 
to  be  thus  caught,  and  told  him  plainly,  that 
it  would  be  foolish  to  entrust  with  his  defence 
one  who  had  already  prejudged  his  cause. 

On  the  day  of  trial,  the  public  anxiety  was 
greatly  excited,  and  all  the  avenues  to  the 
palace  were  crowded  with  people  who  waited 
to  learn  the  result.  The  accused  was  conduct- 
ed to  the  chamber,  where  the  lords  were 
assembled.  When  the  Queen  had  taken  her 
seat,  and  perceived  Knox  standing  unmoved 
at  the  foot  of  the  table,  she  burst  into  a  loud 
fit  of  laughter.     "  That  man,"  she  said,  "  had 

18 


19S  THE  LIFE  OF 

made  her  weep,  and  shed  never  a  tear  himself. 
She  would  now  see  if  she  could  make  him 
weep."  The  secretary  opened  the  proceed- 
ings, and  a  copy  of  the  circular  was  produced, 
to  say  whether  he  acknowledged  that  to  be  his 
hand-writing.  He  looked  at  it,  and  said  that 
it  was;  and  though  he  had  subscribed  a  num- 
ber of  blanks,  he  had  such  confidence  in  the 
fidelity  of  the  scribe,  that  he  was  ready  to  ac- 
knowledge both  the  subscription  and  contents. 
The  Queen  took  upon  herself  very  much  the 
conducting  of  the  trial,  assisted  by  her  secre- 
tary Maitland.  Every  effort  was  made,  to 
bring  the  accused  to  a  confession  of  some 
fault,  but  he  stood  firm  and  unmoved,  and  de- 
fended himself  against  all  their  charges,  with 
calmness  and  dignity.  The  fact  was,  that  the 
circular  contained  nothing,  having  the  sem- 
blance of  treason.  The  only  word  in  it  which 
furnished  the  least  pretext  for  such  an  accusa- 
tion, was,  in  the  following  sentence,  "  This 
fearful  summons  is  directed  against  them  (the 
two  persons  indicted)  to  make  no  doubt  a  pre- 
parative on  a  few,  to  open  a  door  to  execute 
cruelty  on  a  greater  multitude."  But  Knox 
defended  his  attributing  cruelty  to  the  papists^ 


JOHN  KNOX.  199 

SO  strongly,  that  the  lords  spoke  out  in  confir- 
mation of  what  he  said.  When  the  vote  was 
taken,  all  voted  that  the  accused  had  violated 
no  law  of  that  realm,  except  only  the  imme- 
diate dependents  of  the  Queen. 

The  secretary,  who  had  assured  the  Queen 
of  his  condemnation,  was  excessively  chagrin- 
ed and  mortified  upon  hearing  the  sentence 
of  acquittal,  and  again  brought  her  majesty 
into  the  court,  and  proceeded  to  call  the 
votes  a  second  time  in  her  presence.  This  at- 
tempt to  overawe  them,  incensed  the  nobility. 
What  said  they,  "  shall  the  laird  of  Lethington 
have  power  to  control  us  ?  Or  shall  the  pre- 
sence of  a  woman,  cause  us  to  offend,  and  con- 
demn an  innocent  man  against  our  conscien- 
ces?^^ With  this  they  repeated  their  votes, 
absolving  him  from  all  offence,  and  praising 
his  modest  demeanour,  and  judicious  defence. 

Mary  was  unable  to  conceal  her  mortification 
and  displeasure,  at  this  unexpected  acquittal. 
And  nothing  affected  her  more  than  to  observe 
that  the  Bishop  of  Ross,  who  had  been  the 
informer,  voted  with  the  majority.  She  could 
not  refrain  from  reproaching  him  for  his  con- 
duct.    The  Bishop  replied,  that  she  could  not 


200  THE  LIFE  OF 

but  know  that  it  was  not  partiality  to  the  ac- 
cused, which  influenced  his  vote. 

Thus  ended  this  malign,  but  impotent  pro- 
secution, to  the  increased  honour  of  the  refor- 
mer, and  to  the  disgrace  and  confusion  of  his 
enemies. 


PERIOD   VII. 

FROM  HIS  ACQUITTAL  FROM  A  CHARGE  OF  TREASON,  BY  THE 
PRIVY  COUNCIL,  IN  THE  YEAR  1563,  TO  HIS  BEING  STRUCK 
WITH    APOPLEXY,    1570. 

The  indignation  of  the  Queen,  on  account  of 
the  acquittal  of  Knox,  was  not  easily  appeased, 
and  she  caused  her  displeasure  to  be  felt  by 
those  who  had  taken  any  part  in  this  business. 
Murray  and  Maitland  made  another  effort  to 
induce  the  reformer  to  make  some  kind  of 
submission  to  her,  which  might  tend  to  pacify 
her;  but  this  he  again  positively  refused. 
Disappointed  in  this,  they  circulated  rumours 
to  his  disadvantage,  as  that  he  had  written  the 
circular,  before-mentioned,  without  being  re- 
quested to  do  so;  and  that  he  was  endeavour- 
ing to  lord  it  over  the  Scottish  Church,  by 


JOHN  KNOX.  201 

exercising  a  kind  of  papal  authority  over  his 
brethren.  No  charge  could  have  been  more 
groundless;  for  there  never  was,  perhaps,  any- 
one, who  had  so  much  influence,  that  was  more 
careful  of  assuming  authority,  or  acting  by  his 
own  authority  in  matters  of  public  and  common 
concern.  He,  therefore,  when  the  General 
Assembly  met,  took  no  part  in  the  discussions 
of  that  body;  but,  when  other  matters  were 
disposed  of,  he  asked  liberty  to  make  a  state- 
ment which  concerned  himself;  when  he  gave 
a  particular  account  of  all  that  he  had  done, 
and  requested  their  judgment  in  the  case.  The 
courtiers  opposed  its  being  taken  up,  but  the 
Assembly  determined  to  consider  it;  and, 
after  a  full  examination,  gave  it  as  their  opi- 
nion, that  Knox  had  been  commissioned  to  act 
as  he  did,  and  that  he  had  not,  in  any  respect, 
gone  beyond  the  bounds  of  his  commission. 

Knox  had  now  been  a  widower  for  three 
years,  when,  in  March  1564,  he  contracted 
a  second  marriage  with  Margaret  Stewart, 
daughter  of  Lord  Ochiltree,  a  nobleman  of 
amiable  disposition;  and  who  had  adhered  to 
our  reformer  when  he  was  forsaken  by  his 
other   friends.      She  continued   to   discharge 

18* 


202  THE  LIFE  OF 

the  duties  of  a  wife  to  him  until  the  time  of 
his  death. 

During  the  year  1564,  things  remained  at 
peace  in  the  country;  but  the  jealousies  be- 
tween the  court  and  the  Protestant  Church 
continued.  The  Queen's  prejudices  against 
the  reformed  religion  were  unabated,  and  she 
maintained  a  correspondence  with  its  sworn 
enemies,  on  the  continent,  which  did  not  alto- 
gether escape  the  vigilance  of  her  Protestant 
subjects.  The  preachers,  on  their  side,  did 
not  relax  in  their  zealous  warnings  against 
popery.  The  court  was  uneasy  under  their 
reproaches,  and  endeavoured  to  restrain  the 
license  of  the  pulpit,  and,  by  their  persuasions, 
gained  over  to  their  views  some  of  the  more 
moderate.  Having  so  far  succeeded,  they 
ventured  to  propose  the  matter  more  publicly, 
and  to  request  the  sanction  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Assembly.  This  matter  was 
discussed  in  conference  with  them,  and  a  long 
debate  ensued  between  Maitland  and  Knox, 
on  the  principal  points  of  his  doctrine,  which 
gave  offence  to  the  court.  This  controversy 
has  been  recorded  at  large  by  Knox,  in  his 
History  of  the   Reformation,  an   abstract  of 


JOHN  KNOX.  203 

which  is  'given  by  Dr.  M'Crie,  in  his  "  Life 
of  Knox."  It  will  be  sufficient  for  our  pur- 
pose, to  remark,  that  the  objections  made  to 
him,  related  both  to  his  prayers  and  preaching. 
In  the  former,  Maitland  said,  that  he  prayed 
for  the  Queen's  conversion  conditionally,  and 
spoke  of  her  as  under  the  bondage  of  Satan. 
The  offence  given  by  his  preaching,  related  to 
Knox's  doctrine  respecting  the  limited  autho- 
rity of  princes.  This  controversy,  however, 
answered  no  valuable  end;  the  sentiments  of 
the  members  being  divided,  they  broke  up 
without  coming  to  any  determinate  resolution. 

In  the  month  of  August,  Knox  went,  by  the 
appointment  of  the  General  Assembly,  as  visi- 
ter of  the  churches  in  Aberdeen,  and  the  north, 
where  he  remained  six  or  seven  weeks.  The 
subsequent  Assembly  gave  him  a  similar  ap- 
pointment for  Fife  and  Perthshire. 

Our  reformer's  predictions,  at  the  last  meet- 
ing of  parliament,  were  now  fully  verified. 
Another  parliament  was  held  in  1564,  but 
nothing  was  done  for  the  securing  the  free 
exercise  of  the  Protestant  religion.  The 
Queen's  marriage  approached,  and  the  lords 
demanded  this,  on  the  condition  of  their  con- 


204  THE  LIFE  OF 

sent;  but  she  artfully  evaded  the  demand,  and 
accomplished  her  object.  She  sent  for  the 
superintendents  of  Lothian,  Glasgow,  and 
Fife,  and  amused  them  with  fair  words.  She 
was  not  yet  persuaded,  she  said,  of  the  truth  of 
their  religion,  but  she  was  willing  to  hear  con- 
ference and  reasoning  on  the  subject.  She  was 
even  content  to  attend  the  public  sermons  of 
some  of  them;  and  above  all  others,  she  would 
gladly  hear  the  superintendent  of  Angus,  for 
he  was  a  mild  and  sweet  natured  man,  with 
true  honesty  and  uprightness,  Sir  John  Ers- 
kine  of  Dun.  But  as  soon  as  her  marriage 
with  Lord  Darnley  was  over,  she  told  them, 
in  very  plain  and  determined  language,  *^  her 
majesty  neither  will  nor  may  leave  the  religion 
wherein  she  has  been  nourished  and  brought 
up.^'  And  no  more  was  heard  about  confer- 
ence or  hearing  sermons. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1565,  the 
friendship  between  the  earl  of  Murray  and 
Knox  was  renewed.  The  latter  was  placed  in 
very  delicate  circumstances  by  the  insurrec- 
tion, under  the  former  and  the  other  lords 
who  opposed  the  Queen's  marriage.  His  fa- 
ther-in-law was   one  of   the  number.     They 


JOHN  KNOX.  205 

professed  that  the  security  of  the  Protestant 
religion  was  one  of  the  principal  grounds  of 
their  taking  arms;  and  they  came  to  Edin- 
burg  to  collect  men  for  their  standard.  But 
whatever  favour  our  reformer  might  entertain 
for  them,  he  kept  himself  clear  of  all  engage- 
ments. If  he  had  taken  any  part  in  this  un- 
successful revolt,  no  doubt  the  Queen  would 
have  brought  him  to  punishment,  when  all 
his  principal  friends  were  obliged  to  flee  the 
kingdom.  Indeed  upon  a  far  lighter  charge 
she  proceeded  against  him  ;  for  one  day  when 
the  King  attended  his  ministry,  at  St.  Giles' 
church,  the  preacher  happened  in  his  dis- 
course to  cite  that  passage,  "  I  will  give  chil- 
dren to  be  their  princes,  and  babes  shall  rule 
over  them;  children  are  their  oppressors,  and 
women  rule  over  them."  And  in  the  same 
discourse  he  mentioned,  that  God  punished 
Ahab  because  he  did  not  correct  his  idolatrous 
wife,  Jezebel.  Though  no  particular  applica- 
tion was  made  by  the  preacher,  the  King  ap- 
plied these  passages  to  the  Queen  and  himself; 
and  returning  to  the  palace  in  great  wrath,  re- 
fused to  eat  his  dinner.  The  papists  who  at- 
tended him,  were  not  wanting  in  their  efforts 


206  THE  LIFE  OF 

to  inflame  his  resentment,  and  that  of  the 
Queen,  by  their  representations.  That  very 
afternoon,  Knox  was  taken  from  his  bed,  and 
carried  before  the  Privy  Council.  Some  re- 
spectable persons  accompanied  him  to  the 
palace.  He  was  told  that  he  had  ofiended  the 
King,  and  must  desist  from  preaching,  as  long 
as  their  majesties  were  in  Edinburg.  He  re- 
plied, that  he  had  spoken  nothing  but  accord- 
ing to  his  text;  and  if  the  Church  would 
command  him  to  preach  or  abstain,  he  would 
obey,  so  far  as  the  word  of  God  would  per- 
mit him.  The  report  of  this  inhibition,  laid 
upon  the  reformer,  created  great  agitation  in 
the  city.  His  colleague,  who  was  appointed 
to  supply  his  place  during  the  suspension, 
threatened  to  desist  entirely  from  preaching. 
The  town  council  met,  and  appointed  a  depu- 
tation to  wait  on  their  Majesties,  and  request 
the  removal  of  the  inhibition;  and  in  a  second 
meeting,  on  the  same  day,  they  came  to  a 
unanimous  resolution,  that  "  they  would  in  no 
manner  of  way,  consent,  or  grant  that  his 
mouth  be  closed;  but  that  he  should  be  de- 
sired, at  his  pleasure,  and  as  God  should  move 
his  heart  to  proceed  forward  to  true  doctrine. 


JOHN  KNOX.  207 

as  before,  which  doctrine  they  would  approve 
and  abide  at  to  their  life's  end/'  This  sus- 
pension, however,  was  short,  for  the  king  and 
queen  left  Edinbarg  before  the  next  Sabbath. 
Upon  their  return,  it  is  probable  the  court 
judged  it  unadvisable  to  enforce  an  order 
which  had  already  created  much  discontent, 
and  might  alienate  the  minds  of  the  people 
still  further  from  the  present  administration. 
And  so  he  went  on  in  the  exercise  of  his 
ministry,  as  before. 

Christopher  Goodman,  who  was  minister  of 
St.  Andrews,  was  induced  by  the  solicitation 
of  his  friends  in  England,  to  return,  about  this 
time,  to  his  native  country.  The  commis- 
sioners from  St.  Andrews  were  instructed  to 
petition  the  General  Assembly,  which  met 
in  December  of  this  year,  that  Knox  should 
be  translated  from  Edinburg  to  their  city. 
They  claimed  a  right  to  him,  as  he  had  com- 
menced his  ministry  among  them;  and  they 
supposed  that  the  dissensions  between  him 
and  the  court  would  induce  him  to  prefer  a 
more  retired  situation.  But  their  petition 
did  not  meet  with  success;  for  the  Assembly 
would  not  consent  that  he  should  leave  Edin- 


208  THE  LIFE  OF 

burg,  where  the  attachment  to  his  ministry 
was  exceedingly  strong,  and  where  his  influ- 
ence was  most  necessary  to  the  Protestant 
cause. 

The  General  Assembly  commissioned  him, 
this  year,  to  visit  the  south  of  Scotland;  and 
he  was  directed  to  write  a  kind  of  pastoral 
letter,  exhorting  the  ministers,  exhorters,  and 
readers,  throughout  the  kingdom,  to  persevere 
in  the  discharge  of  their  functions,  which  many 
of  them  were'  threatening  to  throw  up,  on 
account  of  the  non-payment  of  their  stipends; 
and  to  excite  the  people  to  relieve  their  minis- 
ters. Knox  was  also  appointed  to  draw  up 
"  The  form  of  Excommunication,"  and  ^'Pub- 
lic Repentance;"  and  also  a  treatise  on  "  Fast- 
ing;." He  and  his  colleagues  were  also  in- 
trusted with  drawing  up  a  statement  relative 
to  a  general  fast  to  be  kept  through  the  king- 
dom, in  consideration  of  the  troubles  of  the 
country,  and  the  dangers  which  threatened  the 
whole  Protestant  interest.  This  paper  was 
intended  to  explain  the  nature  of  the  duty, 
and  the  reasons  which,  at  this  time,  called  for 
its  solemn  exercise,  and  to  be  a  directory  to 
the  ministers,  in  every  part  of  the  country 


JOHN  KNOX.  209 

This  treatise  is  extant,  and  does  credit  to  the 
compilers,  both  as  to  matter  and  form. 

Strong  as  their  apprehensions  were,  the 
danger  was  nearer  than  they  imagined.  The 
most  powerful  and  zealous  Protestants  being 
exiled,  the  Queen  determined  to  carry  into 
execution,  the  design  which  she  had  never  lost 
sight  of;  and  while  she  amused  the  nation  with 
proclamations  against  altering  the  received 
religion,  and  tantalized  the  clergy  with  pro- 
mises of  more  adequate  support,  she  was  pre- 
paring for  the  immediate  restoration  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  worship.  The  King  openly 
professed  himself  a  papist  and  great  efforts 
were  made  to  bring  over  the  nobility.  And 
their  success  was  alarming;  for  the  Earls  of 
Lenox,  Cassilis,  and  Caithness,  with  Lords 
Montgomery  and  Seton, already  declared  them- 
selves in  favour  of  the  Roman  Catholic  re- 
ligion. The  friars,  to  gain  the  favour  of  the 
populace,  began  to  imitate  the  manner  of  the 
Protestant  preachers;  and  some  of  them  were 
appointed  to  officiate,  in  this  service,  at  Holy- 
rood  House. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1566,  a  message 
arrived  from  the  Cardinal  of  Lorrain,  with  a 

19 


210  THE  LIFE  OF 

copy  of  the  league  for  the  general  extirpation 
of  the  Protestants,  and  instructions  to  obtain 
the  Queen's  subscription  to  the  same,  and  her 
consent  to  proceed  to  extremities  against  the 
exiled  nobles.  Mary  scrupled  not  to  set  her 
hand  to  this  league;  and  the  exiled  noblemen 
were  summoned  to  appear  before  the  parlia- 
ment on  the  12th  of  March.  The  lords  of  the 
Articles  were  chosen,  according  to  the  Queen's 
pleasure;  the  popish  ecclesiastics  were  restored 
to  their  place  in  parliament;  and  the  altars  to 
be  erected  in  St.  Giles's  for  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic worship,  were  prepared.  But  these  mea- 
sures were  blasted,  when  ripe  for  execution, 
by  a  secret  engagement  entered  into  by  the 
King,  with  the  Protestant  nobles.  The  first 
effect  of  this  engagement  was,  the  assassination 
of  Rizio,  an  unworthy  favourite  of  the  Queen, 
who  was  the  principal  instigator  of  the  mea- 
sures against  the  Protestant  religion  and  the 
banished  lords;  and  had  incurred  the  jealousy 
of  the  King,  the  contempt  of  the  nobility,  and 
the  hatred  of  the  people.  The  removal  of  this 
minion  from  the  counsels  and  favour  of  the 
Queen,  would  have  been  a  meritorious  act; 
but  the  manner  in  which  it  was  accomplishetl, 


JOHN    KNOX.  211 

was  marked  with  the  barbarous  manners  of  the 
age,  and  cannot  be  justified. 

A  complete  change  now  took  place  in  the 
court.  The  popish  counsellors  fled  from  the 
palace;  the  banished  lords  returned  from 
England,  and  the  parliament  was  prorogued, 
without  accomplishing  any  of  the  objects  for 
which  it  was  convened.  But  the  Queen  soon 
persuaded  the  weak  and  uxorious  King  to 
desert  the  noblemen,  and  disown,  by  a  pro- 
clamation, his  consent  to  the  late  attempt,  and 
to  retire  with  her  to  Dunbar,  by  which  he 
exposed  himself  to  the  contempt  of  the  nation, 
without  regaining  her  affections.  Having  col- 
lected an  army,  she  returned  to  Edinburg, 
threatening  vengeance  to  all  who  had  been 
accessary  to  the  murder  of  her  secretary, 
and  the  indignity  shown  to  her  person.  She 
found  herself  unable,  however,  to  carry  on  her 
scheme  for  the  alteration  of  the  public  religion; 
and  was  forced,  from  policy,  to  pardon  Murray 
and  the  other  lords,  who  had  opposed  her  mar- 
riage. 

When  the  Queen  came  to  Edinburg,  Knox 
left  the  place  and  went  to  Kyle.  There  is  no 
reason  for  supposing,  that  he  had  any  know- 


212  THE  LIFE  OF 

ledge  of  the  conspiracy,  which  proved  fatal  to 
Rizio.  But  it  is  not  improbable  that  he  had 
expressed  his  satisfaction  at  an  event  whicli 
signally  contributed  to  the  safety  of  religion 
and  the  commonwealth,  if  not  his  approbation 
of  the  conduct  of  the  conspirators.  However 
this  might  be,  he  was,  on  other  grounds,  suffi- 
ciently obnoxious  to  the  displeasure  of  the 
Queen;  so  that  it  was  deemed  prudent  for  him 
to  withdraw.  The  Queen  now  determied  that 
he  should  not  return;  and  resisted  all  the  im- 
portunities of  the  town  council  and  his  people, 
to  obtain  his  restoration.  She  aimed,  indeed, 
at  banishing  him  from  the  kingdom,  and  wrote 
to  a  nobleman  in  the  west,  where  he  lodged, 
to  banish  him  from  his  house.  And  it  does 
not  appear  that  he  returned  again  to  Edinburg, 
until  the  Queen  was  deprived  of  her  govern- 
ment. Being  thus  banished  from  his  flock, 
he  thought  it  would  be  a  favourable  opportu- 
nity of  visiting  England,  to  which  he  was 
strongly  induced  by  parental  affection;  for  his 
two  sons  had  been  sent  into  that  kingdom,  to 
obtain  their  education,  in  some  of  the  English 
seminaries.  He  obtained  a  safe  conduct,  and 
a  recommendation  from  the  General  Assem- 


JOHN  KNOX.  213 

bly,  who  gave  their  consent  to  his  journey, 
on  condition  that  he  should  return  before  their 
next  meeting,  in  June.  He  was  charged  with 
a  letter  from  the  Assembly,  to  the  bishops 
and  ministers  of  England,  interceding  for  lenity 
to  such  of  their  brethren  as  scrupled  to  use  the 
sacerdotal  dress,  enjoined  by  the  laws.  At 
this  time,  the  controversy  on  this  subject  was 
very  warm  among  the  English  clergy.  Knox 
himself,  was  the  writer  of  this  letter^  and  it  is 
probable  that  the  measure  was  suggested  by 
himself;  for  he  knew  how  to  sympathize  with 
conscientious  men  who  were  sufifering  on  this 
account;  for  he  could  not  have  forgotten  the 
trouble  which  he  himself  had  suffered,  on  a 
similar  ground.  This  interposition  did  not 
obtain  for  them  any  relief.  Even  if  the  supe- 
rior clergy  had  been  willing  to  relax,  in  this 
particular,  Elizabeth  was  inflexible,  and  would 
listen  neither  to  the  supplications  of  her 
bishops,  nor  the  advice  of  her  counsellors. 
Knox's  good  opinion  of  the  English  Queen 
was  not  improved,  by  his  visit. 

Before  setting  ©ff  on  his  journey  to  Eng- 
land, the  Queen  had,  on  the  23d  of  December, 
granted  a  commission  to  the  archbishop  of  St. 

19* 


214  THE  LIFE  OF 

Andrews,  under  the  privy  seal,  restoring  him 
to  his  ancient  jurisdiction,  which  had  been 
abolished  in  1560,  by  act  of  parliament.  The 
Protestants  could  not  but  be  alarmed  at  this 
bold  measure,  evidently  intended  to  be  prepa- 
ratory to  the  restoration  of  the  popish  reli- 
gion; and  to  facilitate  another  dark  design, 
which  was  soon  afterwards  disclosed.  The 
reformer,  upon  hearing  of  this,  moved  as  well 
by  his  own  zeal,  as  the  advice  of  his  brethren, 
addressed  a  circular  letter  to  the  principal 
Protestants,  in  the  kingdom  ;  requesting  their 
immediate  advice,  on  the  measures  proper  to 
be  adopted,  on  this  occasion,  and  inclosing  a 
copy  of  a  supplication  proposed  to  be  present- 
ed to  the  Queen.  This  letter  discovers  all  the 
ardour  of  the  writer's  spirit,  called  forth  by 
this  alarming  occurrence.  The  supplication 
of  the  General  Assembly  to  the  lords  of  the 
privy  council,  also  bears  the  marks  of  the  re- 
former's pen. 

Whilst  Knox  was  in  England,  that  tragedy, 
so  well  known  in  Scottish  history,  was  trans- 
acted, which  led  to  a  complete  revolution  in  the 
government  of  the  kingdom,  and  contrary  to 
the  designs  of  the  actors,  threw  the  power 


JOHN    KNOX.  215 

into  the  hands  of  the  Protestants.  Mary's 
affection  for  her  husband,  vvliich  had  cooled 
soon  after  their  marriage,  after  the  death  of 
Rizio,  was  converted  into  a  deadly  hatred, 
which  she  was  at  little  pains  to  conceal.  And 
in  proportion  as  her  mind  Vv^as  alienated  from 
the  King,  the  unprincipled  earl  of  Bothwell 
grew  in  her  favour.  He  engrossed  the  whole 
management  of  public  affairs,  and  was  treated 
by  her  majesty  with  every  mark  of  regard 
and  affection.  In  these  circumstances,  the 
neglected  unhappy  King,  was  decoyed  to 
Edinburg,  lodged  in  a  solitary  building,  at  the 
extremity  of  the  city,  and  murdered  on  the 
night  of  February  9,  1567:  the  house  in 
which  he  lay  being  blown  up  with  gunpow- 
der. The  dispute,  respecting  the  real  perpe- 
trators of  the  deed,  is  not  yet  settled ;  and  it 
would  be  foreign  to  our  purpose  to  enter  into 
it.  But  that  Bothwell  was  the  contriver  of 
it,  cannot  admit  of  a  doubt,  with  any  impar- 
tial and  reasonable  inquirer.  And  that  the 
Queen  was  in  some  way  accessary  to  the  deed, 
needs  no  other  proof,  than  the  indecent  haste 
with  which  she  admitted  the  murderer  of  her 
husband  to  her  bed.     To  which  many  other 


216  THE  LIFE  OP 

proofs  from  letters  and  depositions,  sufficient 
to  satisfy  any  candid  mind,  might  be  added. 

Knox  being  absent  from  Edinburg,  his  col- 
league was  required  to  publish  the  bands  of 
matrimony  between  the  Queen  and  Both  well; 
on  which  occasion,  he  gave  an  illustrious  ex- 
ample of  his  courage  and  integrity.  For  after 
taking  the  advice  of  his  session,  he  protested 
from  the  pulpit,  on  three  several  days,  that 
the  marriage  was  unlawful;  and  took  heaven 
and  earth  to  witness,  that  he  abhorred  and  de- 
tested the  intended  marriage  as  unlawful  and 
scandalous;  and  solemnly  charged  the  nobility 
to  use  their  influence  to  prevent  the  Queen 
from  taking  a  step,  which  would  cover  her 
with  infamy.  Being  called  before  the  coun- 
cil, and  accused  of  having  exceeded  the  bounds 
of  his  commission,  he  boldly  replied,  that  the 
bounds  of  his  commission  were  the  word  of 
God,  good  laws,  and  natural  reason,  to  all  of 
which  the  proposed  marriage  was  contrary. 
And  Both  well  being  present,  he  charged  him 
with  the  crime  of  adultery,  and  with  the  murder 
of  the  king.  This  conduct  of  John  Craig 
was  worthy  of  the  intrepidity  of  Knox  himself 
and  is  a  lasting  monument  to  the  honour  of 


JOHN  KNOX.  217 

this  distinguished  man ;  for,  when  he  thus 
boldly  denounced  the  guilty  in  high  places, 
almost  every  other  tongue  was  silent,  through 
fear. 

Knox  returned,  at  the  time  prescribed,  and 
was  present  at  the  General  Assembly,  which 
met  in  June  1567,  and  was  commissioned  to 
go  into  the  west,  to  endeavour  to  bring  over 
the  Hamiltons  and  others,  to  join  with  the 
lords  of  the  convention,  and  to  attend  a  con- 
vention of  the  delegates  of  the  churches,  to 
be  held  in  July.  He  was  unsuccessful  in  his 
mission,  but  the  convention  was  held,  and  the 
nobles,  barons,  and  other  commissioners  who 
were  present,  signed  articles,  with  relation  to 
religion,  and  the  state  of  the  nation. 

On  the  29th  of  July,  Knox  preached  the 
sermon  at  the  coronation  of  James  VI.,  in  the 
parish  church  of  Stirling :  but  he  objected  to 
the  ceremony  of  unction,  and  therefore  this 
ceremony  was  performed  by  the  bishop  of 
Orkney.  After  the  coronation,  Knox  and 
some  others  requested  authentic  extracts  of 
the  proceedings. 

What  ought  to  be  done  with  the  Queen, 
now  confined   by  the  lords,  in   the  castle  of 


218  THE  LIFE  OP 

Lochlevin,  was  a  matter  concerning  which, 
there  were  various  opinions ;  for  while  some 
proposed  that  she  should  leave  the  kingdom ; 
some  that  she  should  be  imprisoned  for  life ; 
others  insisted,  that  she  ought  to  suffer  capital 
punishment.  Of  this  last  opinion  was  Knox, 
with  almost  all  the  ministers,  and  the  great 
body  of  the  people.  This  opinion  was  ground- 
ed on  the  belief,  that  she  was  really  guilty  of 
murder  and  adultery,  to  both  which  the  pun- 
ishment of  death  was  affixed  by  the  law  of 
God,  and  of  nations.  From  this  penalty  per- 
sons of  rank  could  plead  no  exemption.  Knox 
scrupled  not  publicly  to  maintain,  that  the 
estates  of  the  kingdom  ought  to  bring  Mary 
to  a  trial,  and  if  she  was  found  guilty  of  the 
murder  of  her  husband,  and  an  adulterous 
connexion  with  Bothwell,  that  she  ought  to 
be  put  to  death. 

The  earl  of  Murray  being  now  established 
in  the  regency,  directed  his  attention,  at  an 
early  period  to  the  settlement  of  religion,  and 
redressing  the  principal  grievances  of  which 
the  church  had  complained.  At  the  meeting 
of  the  parliament,  in  December,  he  nominated 
certain  barons,  and  commissioners  of  boroughs, 


JOHN  KNOX.  219 

to  digest  such  overtures  as  were  proper  to  be 
laid  before  the  parliament.  With  them,  he 
joined  Knox,  and  four  other  ministers.  This 
committee  met  in  December,  and  sat  until  the 
opening  of  the  parliament.  The  record  of 
their  proceedings  is  preserved,  both  as  to 
civil  and  ecclesiastical  affairs  ;  but  as  many  of 
their  propositions  were  not  adopted  by  parlia- 
ment, the  document  is  only  useful  as  showing 
the  views  entertained  by  a  number  of  the 
most  serious  and  zealous  men  of  that  time. 

On  the  15th  of  December,  Knox  preached 
at  the  opening  of  the  parliament,  and  exhorted 
them  to  begin  with  the  affairs  of  religion,  in 
which  case  they  would  find  better  success  with 
their  other  business.  This  parliament  ratified 
all  the  acts  which  had  been  passed  in  1560,  in 
favour  of  the  Protestant  religion  and  against 
popery;  and  added  new  statutes  of  a  similar 
kind.  In  these  it  was  provided,  that  no  prince 
should  hereafter  be  admitted  to  the  exercise  of 
authority  in  the  kingdom,  without  taking  an 
oath  to  maintain  the  Protestant  religion;  and 
that  none  but  Protestants  should  be  admitted 
to  any  office,  not  hereditary,  nor  held  for  life. 
The  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  exercised  by  the 


220  THE  LIFE  OF 

different  assemblies  of  the  Church,  was  for- 
mally ratified,  and  commissioners  appointed  to 
define  more  exactly,  the  causes  which  properly 
came  within  the  sphere  of  their  judgment. 
Provision  was  also  made  for  the  more  punc- 
tual payment  of  the  stipends  of  the  ministers, 
and  funds  appropriated  for  the  maintenance  of 
poor  scholars. 

Knox  was  appointed  one  of  the  commission- 
ers for  ascertainino;  and  defining;  the  exact 
limits  of  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction.  He  was 
also  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly,  with 
others,  to  consult  with  the  Regent  and  coun- 
cil, on  such  ecclesiastical  matters  as  might 
require  attention  after  the  dissolution  of  the 
Assembly.  He  was  also  appointed  to  assist 
the  superintendent  of  Lothian  in  his  visitation; 
and  afterwards  to  visit  the  churches  of  Kyle, 
Carrick,  and  Cunningham. 

During  the  regency  of  Murray,  there  was 
no  collision  between  Church  and  State,  nor 
any  complaints  to  the  General  Assembly,  as 
there  had  been  before,  and  which  were  after- 
wards renewed.  It  is  true,  that  all  the  grie- 
vances of  which  the}'-  complained,  were  not 
redressed;  and  the  provision  for  such  an  ec- 


JOHN  KNOX.  221 

clesiastical  establishment  as  the  nation  required, 
was  far  from  being  adequate;  but  the  Regent 
paid  a  gracious  attention  to  the  petitions  pre- 
sented to  him,  and  discovered  a  disposition  to 
grant  their  requests,  as  far  as  was  in  his  power. 
And  if  the  parliament  had  always  seconded  his 
efforts  and  adopted  his  plans,  a  sufficient  pro- 
vision would  have  been  made,  both  for  the 
support  of  religion  and  learning. 

It  must  have  afforded  unspeakable  satisfac- 
tion to  the  mind  of  this  man  of  God,  to  see 
matters  in  Scotland  placed  in  that  situation 
which  he  desired,  and  for  which  he  had  inde- 
fatigably  laboured  and  patiently  suffered  for  so 
many  years-  Superstition  and  ignorance  were 
happily  overthrown  and  dispelled;  true  reli- 
gion was  established ;  the  supreme  government 
of  the  nation  was  in  the  hands  of  one  in  whose 
wisdom  and  integrity  he  had  the  greatest  con- 
fidence. The  Church  was  freed  from  many 
of  those  grievances  under  which  she  had  hith- 
erto groaned,  and  enjoyed  the  prospect  of  ob- 
taining the  redress  of  such  as  still  remained. 
The  work  on  which  his  heart  had  been  so  ar- 
dently set  for  so  long  a  period,  and  for  the 
success  of  which  he  had  so  often  trembled,  had 

20 


222  THE  LIFE  OF 

prospered  beyond  his  most  sanguine  expecta- 
tion. He  now  congratulated  himself  on  being 
released  from  all  burden  of  public  affairs,  and 
spending  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  religious 
meditation,  and  in  preparation  for  that  event  of 
which  his  increasing  infirmities  admonished 
him.  He  even  secretly  cherished  the  wish  of 
resigning  his  charge  in  Edinburg,  and  retir- 
ing to  that  privacy,  from  which  he  had  been 
drawn  at  the  commencement  of  the  Scottish 
Reform.ation. 

But  these  halcyon  days  were  not  to  be  of 
long  continuance.  New  trials  of  a  public 
nature  awaited  him.  He  was  yet  to  see  the 
security  of  the  reformed  religion  endangered, 
and  the  country  involved  in  another  civil  war, 
even  more  distressing  than  the  former,  inas- 
much as  the  principal  persons  on  each  side 
were  Protestants  by  profession. 

From  the  time  that  the  government  was 
transferred  from  Mary  to  her  infant  son,  and 
the  Earl  of  Murray  appointed  Regent,  a  num- 
ber of  the  nobility,  with  the  house  of  Hamil- 
ton at  their  head,  stood  aloof  and  refused  to 
acknowledge  his  authority.  Upon  the  escape 
of  the  Queen  from  imprisonment,  they  rallied 


JOHN    KNOX.  223 

around  her  standard,  and  avowed  the  design  of 
restoring  her  to  the  full  exercise  of  the  royal 
authority.  In  consequence  of  the  defeat  at 
Langside,  Mary  was  driven  from  the  king- 
dom, and  .her  party  broken;  and  the  Regent 
reduced  the  whole  kingdom  to  a  state  of  obe- 
dience to  the  King's  authority.  His  enemies, 
despairing  of  accomplishing  their  object  while 
he  lived,  resolved  to  cut  him  off  by  private 
means.  During  the  year  156S,  two  persons 
were  employed  to  assassinate  the  Regent;  but 
the  design  was  discovered.  This  did  not  pre- 
vent new  machinations.  Hamilton,  nephew 
of  the  bishop  of  St.  Andrews,  undertook  to 
perpetrate  the  deed.  This  man  may  be  held 
up  to  view  as  an  extraordinary  instance  of  in- 
gratitude. He  was  among  the  prisoners  taken 
at  the  battle  of  Langside,  and  after  being  ar- 
raigned, condemned,  and  brought  out  to  exe- 
cution, his  life  was  given  to  him  by  the 
Regent;  and  some  time  after  he  was  set  at 
liberty  with  the  other  prisoners.  It  is  said, 
that  he  was  actuated  by  revenge  for  a  supposed 
injury  which  he  had  received,  by  detaining 
one  of  his  forfeited  estates.  Whether  this  was 
really  the  case,  or  was  afterwards  circulated  to 


224  THE  LIFE  OF 

diminish  the  odium  of  his  crime,  cannot  now 
be  certainly  known.  But  there  is  no  evidence 
that  he  ever  suffered  any  thing  from  the  Re- 
gent, which  could  in  any  measure  cancel  the 
debt  of  gratitude  which  he  owed  him.  Having 
concerted  his  plan  with  some  of  the  leading 
men  of  his  party,  he  followed  the  Regent  in 
his  progress  to  Stirling,  Glasgow,  and  Lin- 
lithgow; and  finding  an  opportunity,  in  the 
last  of  these  places,  he  shot  him  through  the 
body  with  a  musket-ball.  The  wound  proved 
mortal,  and  the  Regent  died  the  same  evening. 
While  some  of  his  friends  who  stood  around 
his  bed,  and  lamented  the  excessive  lenity 
which  he  had  shown  to  his  enemies,  and  in 
particular  to  his  murderer,  he  replied,  with  a 
truly  noble  and  Christian  spirit,  "  that  nothing 
should  make  him  repent  an  act  of  clemency." 
The  distress  occasioned  by  the  fall  of  this 
excellent  man  was  deep  and  almost  universal. 
Many  of  those  who  envied  or  hated  him  du- 
ring his  life,  were  now  forward  to  do  justice 
to  his  virtues.  The  common  people  who  had 
experienced  the  beneficial  effects  of  his  short 
administration,  to  a  degree  altogether  unprece- 
dented in  the  country,  felt  as  if  each  had  lost  a 


JOHN  KNOX.  225 

father,  and  loudly  demanded  vengeance  against 
the  authors  of  the  parricide.  And  even  those 
'who  at  first  rejoiced  at  the  intelligence  of  his 
death,  became  ashamed  of  the  exultation  which 
they  had  indecently  expressed.  The  Hamil- 
tons  took  pains  to  clear  themselves  from  any 
participation  in  a  murder  so  universally  de- 
tested. The  murderer  was  dismissed  by  them, 
and  was  glad  to  conceal  his  ignominy  and 
avoid  the  vengeance  of  an  incensed  nation,  by 
condenining  himself  to  perpetual  banishment. 
And  the  only  crime  for  which  his  uncle,  the 
archbishop  of  St.  Andrews,  expressed  any  con- 
trition before  his  execution,  was  his  being  ac- 
cessary to  the  murder  of  the  Regent.  Nor 
were  these  feelings  of  grief  confined  to  Scot- 
land; the  sensation  was  general  throughout 
England;  and  the  expressions  of  sorrow  and 
condolence  from  that  kingdom  evinced  the 
uncommon  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  all 
ranks. 

It  was  the  happiness  of  the  Regent,  that  in 
his  early  years,  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  men 
who  cultivated  his  vigorous  intellect,  and  gave 
a  right  direction  to  his  activity,  and  instilled 
into  his  mind  the  principles  of  religion  and 
20* 


226  THE  LIFE  OF 

virtue.  His  early  adoption  of  the  reformed 
religion,  and  his  steady  adherence  to  it  in  the 
most  trying  times,  as  well  as  the  uniform  cor- 
rectness of  his  morals,  his  integrity,  sagacity, 
and  enterprising  but  cool  courage,  place  him 
in  the  first  rank  among  the  friends  of  the 
reformation  of  religion,  and  of  civil  and  re- 
ligious liberty.  Accordingly  his  worth  was 
duly  appreciated  by  all  who  took  a  lead  in  this 
glorious  work,  and  secured  to  him  their  cor- 
dial and  unbounded  confidence.  Though  often 
placed  in  situations  which  would  have  tempted 
the  ambition  of  others,  he  never  took  any 
steps  to  obtain  for  himself  the  supreme  autho- 
rity. When  he  accepted  the  Regency,  it  was 
incompliance  with  the  decided  and  uncorrupted 
voice  of  the  majority  of  the  nation,  pointing 
him  out  as  the  fittest  person  to  occupy  that 
high  station.  And  his  conduct  in  this  most 
delicate  and  embarrassing  situation,  showed 
that  his  countrymen  were  not  mistaken  in  their 
choice.  He  united,  in  no  ordinary  degree, 
those  qualities  which  are  rarely  combined  in 
the  same  individual,  and  which  make  up  the 
character  of  an  accomplished  prince.  Excel- 
ling equally  in  the  arts  of  war  and  peace,  he 


JOHN  KNOX.  227 

reduced  the  country  to  universal  obedience  to 
the  King's  authority  by  his  military  skill  and 
valour,  and  preserved  it  in  a  state  of  tranquil- 
lity and  order  by  the  wise  and  impartial  ad- 
ministration of  justice.  Successful  in  all  his 
warlike  enterprizes,  he  never  tarnished  the 
laurels  of  victory  by  cruelty  or  unnecessary 
rigour  to  the  vanquished.  His  uncommon 
liberality  to  his  friends,  to  the  learned,  to  his 
servants,  and  his  unostentatious  charity  to  the 
poor,  have  been  celebrated  by  the  distinguished 
Scottish  historian  and  poet,  Buchanan,  who  had 
the  best  opportunities  of  being  acquainted  with 
him.  As  to  his  exemplary  piety,  it  shone 
forth  with  uniform,  consistent,  and  brilliant 
rays.  His  family  was  so  regulated  as  to  re- 
semble a  church  rather  than  a  court.  Besides 
the  ordinary  exercise  of  devotion,  a  chapter  of 
the  Bible  was  always  read  at  dinner,  and  ano- 
ther at  supper;  and  it  was  his  custom  on  such 
occasions,  to  require  his  chaplain  or  some  other 
learned  man  to  expound  the  passage  read  for 
his  own  instruction  and  that  of  his  family. 
"A  man  truly  good,''  says  Archbishop  Spottis- 
wood,  "  and  worthy  to  be  ranked  among  the 
best  governors   that  this   kingdom   hath   en- 


228  THE  LIFE  OF 

joyed,  and  therefore  to  this  day  honoured  with 
the  title  of  ^  the  good  Regent.^  " 

A  very  different  character  has  been  given  of 
this  distinguished  man  by  more  than  one  of 
our  modern  historians.  All  that  I  have  at- 
tempted is,  to  sketch  the  most  prominent  fea- 
tures of  his  character.  That  he  was  without 
faults  is  not  pretended;  but  the  principal  char- 
ges brought  against  him  are  false,  irrelevant, 
or  greatly  exaggerated. 

The  Regent  died  on  the  evening  of  Satur- 
day, and  the  intelligence  reached  Edinburg 
early  next  morning.  It  is  impossible  to  de- 
scribe the  anguish  which  Knox  felt  on  the  occa- 
sion. A  long  and  intimate  friendship  had  long 
subsisted  between  them.  Of  all  the  Scottish 
nobility,  he  placed  the  greatest  confidence  in 
Murray's  attachment  to  religion;  and  his  con- 
duct after  his  elevation  to  the  Regency  had 
served  to  heighten  the  good  opinion  which  he 
had  formerly  entertained  of  him.  He  looked 
upon  his  death  as  the  greatest  calamity  which 
could  befall  the  nation,  and  the  precursor  of 
other  evils.  After  the  tumult  of  his  feelings 
had  in  a  measure  subsided,  the  first  thought 
which  rushed  into  his  mind  was,  that  he  him- 


JOHN  KNOX.  229 

self  had  been  the  instrument  of  obtaining  from 
his  clemency  a  pardon  for  the  man  who  had 
become  his  murderer;  which,  however,  pro- 
duced a  very  different  impression  on  his  mind 
from  what  it  did  on  the  dying  regent.  In  his 
sermon  that  day,  he  introduced  this  subject; 
and  after  saying,  that  God  in  his  great  mercy 
raised  up  godly  rulers,  and  took  them  away  in 
his  displeasure  on  account  of  the  sins  of  a  na- 
tion, he  thus  poured  out  the  sorrows  of  his 
heart  in  an  address  to  God.  "  0  Lord  in  what 
misery  and  confusion  found  he  this  realm!  To 
what  rest  and  quietness  now,  by  his  labours  he 
suddenly  brought  the  same,  all  estates,  but 
especially  the  poor  can  witness.  Thy  image, 
0  Lord,  did  so  clearly  shine  in  that  personage, 
that  the  devil,  and  the  wicked  to  whom  he  is 
prince,  could  not  abide  it;  and  so  to  punish 
our  sins  and  our  ingratitude,  who  did  not 
rightly  esteem  this  precious  gift,  thou  hast 
permitted  him  to  fall,  to  our  great  grief,  in  the 
hands  of  cruel  and  traitorous  murderers.  He 
is  at  rest,  0  Lord,  we  are  left  in  extreme  mi- 
sery." 

Soon  after  the  death  of  the  Regent,  in  order 
to  lessen  the  odium  which  had  devolved  on 


230  THE  LIFE  OF 

his  enemies,  an  account  of  a  pretended  confe- 
rence between  him  and  certain  leading  noble- 
men, was  circulated.  In  which  they  were 
represented  as  advising  him  to  set  aside  the 
young  King,  and  place  the  crown  on  his  own 
head.  This  paper  was  ingeniously  contrived, 
for  the  peculiar  modes  of  speech  of  each  indi- 
vidual were  artfully  imitated,  and  gave  it  a 
greater  air  of  probability.  But  it  was  uni- 
versally regarded  as  a  forgery,  at  once  gross 
and  impudent.  The  author  was  Thomas  Mait- 
land,  a  young  man  of  talents,  and  brother 
of  the  Secretary,  by  whom,  doubtless,  he  was 
corrupted;  for  he  was  strongly  suspected  of 
having  a  deep  hand  in  the  plot  for  cutting  oflf 
the  Regent.  This  young  man,  also,  at  the 
next  meeting  for  weekly  conference  in  Edin- 
burg,  handed  up  to  the  pulpit  a  note  contain- 
ing these  words,  "Take  up  now  the  man  whom 
you  accounted  as  a  God,  and  consider  the  end 
to  which  his  ambition  has  brought  him." 
Knox  read  the  paper,  supposing  that  it  was  a 
request  for  prayer  to  be  offered  in  behalf  of 
some  person;  but  when  he  saw  what  it  vTas, 
he  laid  it  aside;  but  when  he  had  nearly  fin- 
ished his  sermon,  he  deplored  the  loss  which 


JOHN  KNOX.  231 

the  Church  had  sustained,  and  also  the  eom- 
monwealth,  and  declared  that  the  account  of  a 
pretended  conference  which  had  been  circula- 
ted, was  false  and  calumnious.  Then  he  pro- 
ceeded to  remark,  "  that  there  were  persons 
who  rejoiced  at  the  treasonable  murder,  and 
scrupled  not  to  make  it  the  subject  of  their 
merriment.  Particularly,"  he  said,  "  there 
was  one  present,  who  had  thrown  in  a  writing 
exulting  over  an  event  which  was  the  cause  of 
grief  to  all  good  men."  "  That  wicked  man," 
said  he,  "  whosoever  he  be,  shall  not  go  unpun- 
ished, and  shall  die  where  there  shall  be  none 
to  lament  him."  Maitland,  when  he  returned 
home,  said  to  his  sister,  that  the  preacher  was 
raving  to  speak  in  such  a  manner  of  one  whom 
he  knew  not;  but  she  understanding  that  he 
had  written  the  line,  reproved  him,  saying 
with  tears,  "  that  none  of  that  man's  denuncia- 
tions were  wont  to  prove  idle."  Spottiswood, 
who  had  this  information  from  the  mouth  of 
the  lady  herself,  says,  "  that  Maitland  died  in 
Italy,  having  no  known  persons  to  attend  him." 
On  Tuesday  the  14th  of  February,  1569 
the  Regent's  corpse  was  brought  from  the 
palace  of  Holyrood-house,  and  interred  in  the 


232  THE  LIFE  OF 

south  aisle  of  the  collegiate  church  of  St.  Giles. 
Knox  preached  a  sermon  on  the  occasion,  on 
the  words,  ^^  Blessed  are  thedead  who  die 
in  the  Lord.'^  Three  thousand  persons  were 
dissolved  in  tears  before  him,  while  he  descri- 
bed the  Regent's  virtues  and  bewailed  his  loss. 

Buchanan  paid  his  tribute  to  the  memory 
of  the  deceased  by  writing  the  inscription 
placed  on  his  monument,  with  that  expressive 
simplicity  and  brevity,  which  are  dictated  by 
genuine  grief.  This  inscription,  engraved  on 
brass,  is  yet  to  be  seen.  A  convention  of  the 
nobility  was  held,  after  the  funeral,  in  which 
it  was  resolved  to  avenge  his  death  ;  but  there 
was  a  difference  of  opinion,  as  to  the  best 
method  of  doing  this.  And  the  common  peo- 
ple complained  loudly  of  the  remissness  with 
which  the  resolution  was  carried  into  execution. 

The  General  Assembly,  at  their  first  meet- 
ing, after  this  event,  testified  their  detestation 
of  the  crime,  by  ordering  the  assassin  to  be 
publicly  excommunicated  in  all  the  chief 
towns  of  the  kingdom;  and  ordered  the  same 
to  be  done  towards  all  who  should  be  convict- 
ed of  being  accessary  to  the  conspiracy. 

Knox  received  a  number  of  letters  from 


JOHN    KNOX.  233 

England,  expressive  of  the  high  regard  which 
was  entertained  for  the  character  of  the  Re- 
gent, and  their  sorrow  at  so  grievous  a  loss. 
One  of  his  correspondents,  Dr.  Laurence 
Humphrey,  urged  him  to  write  a  memoir  of 
the  deceased.  But  the  state  of  the  Reformer's 
health  rendered  it  impracticable  for  him  to 
perform  this  service. 

The  grief  which  preyed  on  the  feeling  mind 
of  Knox  in  consequence  of  this  mournful  event, 
and  the  confusion  which  followed  it,  preyed 
on  his  spirit  and  injured  his  health.  And  in 
the  month  of  October,  he  had  a  stroke  of 
apoplexy,  or  paralysis,  which  affected  his 
speech  considerably.  Upon  this  occasion  his 
enemies  exulted,  and  circulated  the  most  ex- 
aggerated stories. 


PERIOD    VIII. 

FROM  HIS  PARALYTIC  STROKE  IN  1570,  TO  HIS  DEATH  IN  1572. 

Those  who  flattered  themselves  that  the  re- 
former's disorder  was  mortal  were  disappoint- 
ed, for  he  convalesced,  recovered  the  use  of 
his  speech,  and  was  able  to  resume  preaching, 

21 


234  THE  LIFE  OF 

at  least  on  the  Sabbath  ;  he  never,  however, 
recovered  from  the  debility  which  was  pro- 
duced by  the  stroke. 

Great  confusion  ensued  upon  the  death  of 
the  Regent.  The  country  was  divided  into 
two  factions,  one  of  which  adhered  to  the 
Queen,  and  the  other,  to  which  the  Protestants 
generally  belonged,  adhered  to  the  interests  of 
the  young  King.  Knox  had  about  this  time 
a  violent  quarrel  with  Kircaldy  of  Grange, 
the  governor  of  the  castle  of  Edinburg,  who 
had  been  a  warm  friend  of  the  reformation, 
but  now  took  part  with  the  queen.  Knox 
offended  this  nobleman  by  some  remarks  in  a 
sermon  respecting  a  riot  which  his  servants 
had  excited,  and  which  Grange  considered  as 
bearing  hard  upon  him.  One  of  his  servants 
had  been  imprisoned  on  the  charge  of  murder, 
and  he  sent  and  had  the  prison  broken  open, 
and  the  prisoner  rescued ;  on  which  occasion 
Knox  made  the  remarks  which  gave  offence. 
And  afterwards  Grange,  who  had  not  been  in 
his  church  for  a  year,  came  with  a  number  of 
his  friends  to  hear  Knox ;  who  understanding 
it  to  be  a  kind  of  bravado,  and  intended  to  in- 
timidate him,  went  on  to  remark  with  severity 


JOHN  KNOX.  235 

on  the  sin  of  forgetting  God's  benefits,  and 
warned  his  hearers  against  confiding  in  the 
divine  mercy  while  they  were  knowingly 
transgressing  any  of  his  commandments,  or 
proudly  defending  theirtransgressions.  Grange 
considering  these  remarks  as  pointed  at  him- 
self, was  much  incensed,  and  in  speaking  of 
the  preacher,  made  use  of  ver}?-  threatening 
language.  The  report  of  this  spread  far 
through  the  country,  and  the  governor  re- 
ceived letters  from  noblemen  of  the  west, 
warning  him  not  to  do  any  thing  to  the  injury 
of  a  man,  whom  God  had  made  the  first  plan- 
ter and  chief  waterer  of  the  church  among; 
them;  and  protested  that  his  life  was  as  dear 
to  them  as  their  own.  Knox  was  not  to  be  in- 
timidated from  doing  what  he  believed  to  be 
his  duty,  and  continued  to  warn  his  hearers 
against  all  persons  who  supported  the  Queen's 
pretensions,  or  prevented  the  punishment  of 
evil  doers.  When  the  General  Assembly 
met  in  1571,  many  anonymous  and  threaten- 
ing libels  were  throv^n  into  the  house,  direct- 
ed against  him,  which  his  friends  wished  him 
not  to  notice;  but  he  took  them  into  the  pul- 
pit,   and    distinctly   answered    every   charge 


236  THE  LIFE  OF 

which  they  contained.  The  Assembly  noticed 
the  matter  also,  by  intimating,  that  if  any  had 
charges  to  bring  against  him,  the}"  would  come 
forward  and  accuse  him,  but  none  ventured  to 
appear;  still  the  anonymous  libels  were  contin- 
ued. One  of  the  principal  things  of  which  he 
was  accused  was,  that  in  his  sermons  he  charged 
the  Queen  with  horrible  crimes,  and  had  railed 
against  her.  As  to  the  railing  he  denied  it, 
but  admitted  that  he  had  charged  the  Queen 
with  the  crimes  which  she  had  committed; 
that  he  had  learned  plainly  and  boldly  to  call 
wickedness  by  its  own  terms,  '•  a  fig,  a  fig,  and 
a  spade  a  spade."  He  had  never  called  her  a 
reprobate,  nor  said  that  her  repentance  was 
impossible;  but  he  had  said,  that  pride  and 
repentance  could  not  remain  long  together  in 
one  heart.  He  had  prayed,  he  said,  that  God 
would  oppose  his  power  to  her  pride,  and  con- 
found her  and  her  assistants  in  their  impiety. 
This  prayer,  let  them  call  it  imprecation  or 
execration,  let  them  call  it  what  they  pleas- 
ed, had  stricken,  and  would  strike  whoever 
supported  her.  To  the  charge  of  not  praying 
for  her,  he  answered,  "  I  am  not  bound  to 
pray  for  her  in  this  place,  for  sovereign  to  me 


JOHN    KNOX.  237 

she  is  not,  and  I  let  them  understand  that  I 
am  not  a  man  of  law,  that  has  my  tongue  to 
sell  for  silver,  or  favour  of  the  world.  What 
title  she  now  had,  or  ever  had  he  would  not 
dispute:  the  estates  deprived  her  of  it,  and  it 
belonged  to  them  to  answer  for  this.  As  for 
himself  he  had  hitherto  lived  in  obedience 
to  all  lawful  authority  within  this  kingdom." 

After  this,  his  enemies  returned  to  the  old 
theme  of  his  Blast,  as  the  most  vulnerable 
point  in  his  character,  and  accused  him  of  in- 
consistency in  denying  the  right  of  females  to 
rule,  and  yet  praying  as  he  did,  for  Queen 
Elizabeth.  He  took  up  this  matter  also  in  the 
pulpit,  and  defended  himself  with  great  spirit. 

The  conduct  of  Knox,  about  this  time,  fur- 
nishes striking  evidence  of  the  unextinguisha- 
ble  ardour  of  his  mind.  He  was  so  debilitated 
in  body,  that  he  never  went  abroad,  except  to 
preach  in  the  forenoon.  He  had  given  up  at- 
tendance on  church  courts.  He  withdrew  his 
attention  also,  from  public  affairs.  But  when- 
ever he  saw  the  welfare  of  the  Church  and 
Commonwealth  threatened,  he  forgot  his  reso- 
lutions and  infirmities,  and  entered  into  the 
cause  with  all  the  vigour  and  keenness  of  his 

21* 


238  THE  LIFE  OF 

younger  days.  Or,  whenever  his  own  con- 
duct was  attacked,  he  convinced  his  enemies 
that  they  could  not  accomplish  their  designs 
without  opposition,  as  long  as  he  was  able  to 
move  a  tongue.  His  situation  in  Edinburg  be- 
came very  critical  when  Grange  received  the 
Hamiltons  into  the  castle  of  Edinburg;  for 
their  inveteracy  against  him  was  so  great,  that 
his  friends  w^ere  obliged  to  watch  his  house 
during  the  night.  They  wished  also  to  form 
a  guard  for  him  w^hen  he  went  out,  but  the 
governor  of  the  castle  forbade  this.  Intima- 
tions were  often  given  of  designs  against  his 
life;  and  one  evening  as  he  sat  in  his  house,  a 
musket  ball  was  fired  in  at  the  window,  and 
lodged  in  the  ceiling  of  the  room.  It  hap- 
pened that  he  was  sitting  at  this  time  in  a  dif- 
ferent part  of  the  room  from  that  which  he 
usually  occupied,  or  the  ball  would  have  struck 
him.  His  friends,  on  this,  urged  him  to  re- 
tire from  Edinburg,  but  he  refused  to  yield  to 
them,  apprehending  that  his  enemies  wished 
to  intimidate  him  into  flight,  that  they  might 
accuse  him  of  cowardice.  But  at  length  they 
had  recourse  to  an  argument  which  prevailed. 
They  told  him  that  they  were  determined  to 


JOHN  KNOX.  239 

defend  him  to  the  last,  but  that  if  blood  were 
shed,  he  must  be  answerable  for  it,  as  nothing 
but  his  obstinacy  rendered  it  necessary.  On 
this  he  consented,  "  sore  against  his  will,"  to 
leave  the  city.  He  chose  St.  Andrews,  as  the 
place  of  his  retreat;  and  his  pulpit  was  sup- 
plied by  Alexander  Gordon,  who,  though  he 
preached  and  prayed  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
give  no  offence  to  the  Queen's  party,  was  des- 
pised by  the  people  for  his  weakness,  and  for 
supplanting  their  favourite  pastor.  The  church 
of  Edinburg  was  for  a  time  dissolved.  A  great 
number  of  the  most  respectable  inhabitants 
were  driven  away,  or  left  in  dissatisfaction. 
Even  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  suspended.  The  adherents  of  the  Queen 
manifested  their  dislike  to  the  reformer,  in 
every  way  which  they  could.  They  impious- 
ly baptized  one  of  the  cannon  on  St.  Giles' 
steeple  by  the  name  of  Knox,  which  they 
were  so  fond  of  firing,  that  it  burst,  killed  two 
of  the  party,  and  wounded  others. 

Although  free  from  personal  danger  at  St. 
Andrews,  he  did  not  find  it  as  comfortable  a 
retreat  as  he  had  expected.  His  enemies  had 
a  considerable  party  here,  who  were  thorns  in 


240  THE  LIFE  OF 

his  side,  and  made  his  situation  nnoasy,  as 
long  as  he  resided  among  them.  He  continued 
to  denounce  the  murderers  of  the  late  King 
and  Regent,  and  thus  gave  great  offence  to  some 
of  their  friends  who  resided  at  St.  Andrews. 
And  they  knowing  his  popularity  dared  not 
attack  him  in  public,  but  privately  circulated 
reports  to  his  disadvantage;  which,  however, 
being  ridiculously  false,  were  not  credited. 
And  he  did  not  refuse  to  appear  before  the 
professors  of  the  university  to  give  an  account 
of  his  conduct;  still  reserving  to  himself  the 
right  to  vindicate  himself  in  the  pulpit.  But 
Knox  was  not  only  annoyed  by  the  persecu- 
tion of  the  adherents  of  the  Queen,  but  the 
course  pursued  by  the  courtiers  among  the 
Protestants  respecting  the  revenues  of  the 
Church,  gave  him  great  dissatisfaction.  The 
judgment  of  the  Church  had  uniformly  been 
that  these  revenues  should  be  applied  to  the 
support  of  learning  and  religion,  to  which  ob- 
jects they  were  originally  consecrated;  but  the 
courtiers  formed  the  design  of  getting  them 
into  their  own  hands.  But  as  the  immediate 
secularization  of  them  was  deemed  too  bold  a 
step,  tliey  had  incumbents  selected,  who  be- 


JOHN  KNOX.  241 

fore  their  appointment  agreed  to  make  over 
the  principal  part  of  the  revenue  to  such  no- 
blemen as  had  obtained  the  patronage  of  them, 
from  the  court.  But  as  some  of  these  benefi- 
ces were  attached  to  the  office  of  Archbishop 
and  Bishop,  it  was  resolved,  at  a  meeting  of 
certain  ministers  and  courtiers,  held  at  Leith 
in  January,  1572,  that  qualified  persons  among 
the  ministers  should  be  advanced  to  these  offi- 
ces, during  the  minority  of  the  King;  but  that 
no  greater  power  should  be  given  to  them, 
than  to  the  superintendents,  and  that  they 
should  be  equally  subject  to  the  assemblies  of 
the  Church.  Such  was  the  nature  and  origin 
of  that  species  of  episcopacy,  which  was  intro- 
duced into  the  Reformed  Church  of  Scotland, 
in  the  minority  of  James  VI.  It  does  not  ap- 
pear to  have  proceeded  in  any  measure,  from 
a  predilection  for  hierarchical  government;  but 
from  the  desire  which  the  courtiers  had  to  se- 
cure to  themselves  the  revenues  of  the  Church. 
These  bishops,  thus  created,  received  the  ap- 
pellation of  the  Tulchan  Bishops;  a  tulchan 
is  a  calf-skin  stuffed  with  straw,  to  make  the 
cow  give  her  milk. 

It  has  been  insinuated,  that  Knox  gave  his 


242  THE  LIFE  OF 

assent  to  the  resolutions  of  the  convention  at 
Leith,  to  restore  the  episcopal  office:  and  the 
articles  sent  by  him  to  the  General  Assembly, 
August  1572,  have  been  appealed  to  as  a  proof 
of  this.  But  all  that  can  be  determined  from 
these  articles  is,  that  he  desired  the  limitations 
and  restrictions  agreed  upon  at  this  convention 
to  be  strictly  observed  in  the  election  of  bish- 
ops; in  opposition  to  the  appointment  of  lay- 
men, which  in  one  case  had  been  done.  If 
one  of  his  propositions  to  the  Assembly  had 
been  enforced,  the  revenues  would  have  been 
retained  for  the  church,  which  was  a  thing  he 
had  much  at  heart;  but  the  nobles  were  able 
to  find  in  the  ministr}''  a  sufficient  number  of 
pliant,  needy,  and  cautious  ministers,  to  be  the 
partners  or  the  dupes  of  their  avarice. 

There  is  not  the  least  reason  to  suppose  that 
Knox,  had  changed  his  opinion,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  episcopacy,  which  he  had  heretofore, 
so  strenuously  opposed.  This  very  year,  he 
received  a  letter  from  Beza,  expressing  his 
satisfaction,  that  they  had  banished  the  order 
of  bishops  from  the  Scottish  Church.  And  in 
the  General  Assembly  which  met  this  year  at 
St.  Andrews,  he  set  himself  directly  in  oppo- 


JOHN  KNOX.  243 

sition  to  the  making  of  bishops.  And  when 
old  Mr.  Douglas,  the  provost  of  the  university- 
was  appointed  archbishop  of  St.  Andrews,  he 
disapproved  of  the  thing  greatly,  and  refused 
to  take  any  part  in  the  ceremonies  of  his 
inauguration;  and  pronounced  an  anathema 
against  the  donor  and  the  receiver. 

While  he  was  engaged  in  these  contests, 
his  bodily  strength  was  every  day  sensibly 
decaying;  yet  he  continued  to  preach  although 
he  was  unable  to  walk  to  the  pulpit  without 
assistance.  And  when  he  became  warmed 
with  his  subject,  he  forgot  his  weakness,  and 
electrified  his  audience  with  his  eloquence. 
James  Melville,  then  a  student  at  St.  An- 
drews, says,  that  he  considered,  that  one  of  the 
richest  benefits  which  he  acquired  by  coming 
to  the  university  was,  the  hearing  that  most 
notable  prophet  and  apostle  of  our  nation, 
John  Knox.  I  attended  him  with  my  note 
book  and  pen.  In  the  opening  up  of  his  text, 
he  was  moderate,  the  space  of  half  an  hour; 
but  when  he  came  to  the  application  he  made 
me  so  thrill  and  tremble,  I  could  not  hold  a 
pen  to  write.  He  was  very  weak.  I  saw 
him  every  day,  go  slowly  and  warily,  with  a 


244  THE  LIFE  OP 

fur  about  his  neck,  a  staff  in  one  hand,  and 
good,  godly  Richard  Ballanden,  holding  up 
the  other,  from  the  abbey  to  the  parish  kirk: 
and  the  said  Richard  Ballanden,  and  another 
servant  lifted  him  up  to  the  pulpit,  v/here  he 
behooved  to  lean  at  his  first  entrance;  but 
ere  he  had  done  with  his  sermon,  he  was  so 
active  and  vigorous  that  he  was  likely  to  beat 
the  pulpit  in  pieces,  and  fly  out  of  it." 

During  his  stay  at  St.  Andrews,  he  publish- 
ed a  vindication  of  the  reformed  religion, 
against  a  certain  Jesuit,  named  Tyrie.  He 
had  written  it  in  1568,  but  now  sent  it  forth  to 
the  public,  with  additions,  as  a  farewell  ad- 
dress to  the  w^orld,  and  a  dying  testimony  to 
the  truth  which  he  had  so  long  taught  and  de- 
fended. He  published  also  one  of  the  reli- 
gious letters  which  he  had  written  to  Mrs, 
Bowes,  who  had  lately  departed  this  life,  when 
he  acquaini-ed  the  public  with  the  principal 
cause  of  that  intimate  Christian  friendship 
which  had  subsisted  between  them. 

From  this  time  all  his  letters  and  writings 
are  full  of  ardent  breathings  after  the  heavenly 
state.  He  professes  himself  weary  of  the 
world,  and  desires  to  leave  it;  yet  to  the  last, 


JOHN  KNOX.  245 

his  concern  for  the  church  continued  undimin- 
ished; and  he  put  up  earnest  prayers,  that  the 
light  of  the  Gospel  might  continue  with  it. 

The  General  Assembly  having  appointed  to 
meet  at  Perth,  in  August,  he  took  leave  of 
them  in  a  letter,  along  with  which  he  com- 
municated certain  articles  and  questions,  which 
he  recommended  to  their  consideration,  to 
which  the  Assembly  returned  an  answer,  ex- 
pressing their  approbation  of  his  propositions, 
and  praying  for  his  preservation  and  comfort. 

The  last  public  service  which  he  performed 
was  examining  and  approving  a  sermon  which 
had  been  lately  preached  by  David  Ferguson, 
minister  of  Dunfermline.  His  subscription 
to  this  sermon  was  characteristic  of  the  man, 
and  striking,  as  was  all  that  he  uttered  about 
this  time.  It  is  "  John  Knox,  with  my  dead 
hand,  but  glad  heart,  praising  God,  that  of 
his  mercy,  he  leaves  such  light  to  his  kirk  in 
this  desolation." 

When,  in  consequence  of  a  cessation  of 
arms  agreed  upon  between  the  Regent  and  the 
adherents  of  the  Queen,  and  the  city  of  Edin- 
burg  was  abandoned  by  the  latter,  and  the 
banished  citizens  returned,  an  urgent  message 

22 


248  THE  LIFE  OF 

was  sent  for  him  to  return  to  his  people, 
which  he  said  he  would  willingly  do,  provi- 
ded they  would  permit  him  to  speak  his  mind 
freely,  respecting  the  traitorous  conduct  of  the 
party  who  had  held  the  castle.  Accordingly, 
on  the  17th  of  August,  he  left  St.  Andrews, 
with  his  family,  accompanied  by  a  number 
of  his  brethren  and  acquaintances.  Being 
obliged  to  travel  slowly,  it  was  the  23d  of  the 
month  before  he  reached  Leith,  whence,  after 
resting  a  day  or  two  he  came  to  Edinburg. 
The  inhabitants  enjoyed  the  satisfaction  of 
seeing  him  again  in  the  pulpit,  but  his  voice 
was  so  enfeebled,  that  he  could  not  be  heard 
by  more  than  one  half  of  the  congregation. 
No  one  was  more  sensible  of  this  than  himself, 
he  therefore  requested  the  session  to  provide 
him  with  a  smaller  house,  in  which  he  could 
be  heard  if  it  were  only  by  a  hundred  persons; 
for  his  voice  even  in  his  best  time,  was  not 
able  to  extend  over  the  multitude  which  as- 
sembled in  the  large  church.  This  was  done 
according  to  his  wishes. 

During  his  absence  a  separation  had  taken 
place  between  the  congregation  and  his  col- 
league,  John  Craig,  whom   they   blamed  for 


JOHN  KNOX.  247 

temporizing  during  the  time  the  Queen's  fac- 
tion retained  possession  of  the  castle.  He 
being  now  gone  to  another  part  of  the  king- 
dom, Knox  was  exceedingly  desirous  to  see 
them  supplied  with  a  suitable  minister,  as  a 
successor;  and  the  General  Assembly  having 
given  them  permission  to  select  a  minister  for 
Edinburg  from  any  place  in  the  kingdom, 
Perth  and  Dundee  excepted,  they  chose  Mr. 
James  Lawson,  sub-principal  of  the  college  of 
Aberdeen.  This  choice  was  entirely  agreeable 
to  the  mind  of  Knox,  who  wrote  an  earnest 
letter  to  him  urging  him  to  accept  the  call. 

About  this  time  intelligence  arrived  in 
Scotland  of  the  horrible  massacre  of  the  Pro- 
testants in  Paris,  when  the  pious  Admiral  Co- 
ligni,  and  about  seventy  thousand  other  per- 
sons, were  murdered  in  cold  blood,  by  a  precon- 
certed plan,  by  Charles  IX.  and  his  courtiers. 
This  event  produced  a  shock  in  every  Protes- 
tant country;  though  at  Rome,  a  solemn 
thanksgiving  was  offered  up  by  order  of  the 
Pope.  It  inflicted  a  deep  wound  on  the  feel- 
ings of  the  reformer,  not  only  on  account  of 
the  public  loss  to  the  Church,  but  a  number  of 
those   massacred  were  his  own  personal  ac- 


248  THE  LIFE  OF 

quaintances.  On  the  ensuing  Sabbath  he  en- 
tered the  pulpit,  and  thundered  the  vengeance 
of  heaven  against  that  cruel  murderer,  the 
King  of  France;  and  desired  his  minister,  Le 
Croc,  the  French  ambassador,  to  tell  his  mas- 
ter, that  sentence  was  pronounced  against  him 
in  Scotland,  that  the  divine  vengeance  would 
never  depart  from  him,  nor  from  his  house,  if 
repentance  did  not  ensue.  The  ambassador 
complained  to  the  Regent  of  the  indignity  of- 
fered, and  required  the  preacher  to  be  silenced; 
and  when  this  was  refused,  he  left  Scotland. 

Lawson  having  arrived,  and  preached  to 
the  universal  satisfaction  of  the  people,  Knox 
presided  at  his  installation.  The  sermon  was 
preached  by  him  in  Tolbooth  church,  which 
had  been  fitted  up  for  his  use.  When  the 
sermon  was  ended,  they  removed  to  the  large 
church,  where  the  remainder  of  the  service 
was  performed.  On  this  occasion  he  appeared 
to  be  raised  above  his  infirmities,  for  on  no 
former  occasion  did  he  give  more  universal 
satisfaction  to  his  hearers.  This  was  his  last 
public  service.  After  proposing  the  appointed 
questions  to  his  colleague  and  successor,  he 
concluded  with  a  most  tender  and  solemn  ex- 


JOHN  KNOX.-  249 

hortation.  He  protested  in  the  presence  of 
him  before  whom  he  soon  expected  to  appear, 
that  he  had  walked  among  them  with  a  good 
conscience,  preaching  the  gospel  of  Christ 
with  all  sincerity,  not  studying  to  please  men, 
nor  to  gratify  his  own  feelings.  He  praised 
God,  that  he  had  been  pleased  to  give  them  a 
pastor  in  his  room,  when  he  was  now  unable 
to  lead.  He  fervently  prayed,  that  any  gifts 
which  had  been  conferred  on  himself,  might 
be  augmented  a  thousand  fold  in  his  successor. 
And  then  in  a  most  serious  and  impressive 
manner,  he  exhorted  and  charged  all  present 
to  adhere  steadfastly  to  the  faith  which  they 
had  professed.  Having  finished  the  service 
and  pronounced  the  blessing,  he  came  down 
from  the  pulpit,  and  leaning  on  his  staff,  crept 
down  the  street,  which  was  lined  with  the  au- 
dience; who,  as  if  wishing  to  take  the  last 
look  of  their  beloved  pastor,  followed  him 
until  he  entered  his  house,  from  which  he 
never  came  out  again  alive. 

On  the  following  Tuesday,  he  was  seized 
with  a  severe  cough,  which  greatly  affected 
his  breathing.  When  his  friends  proposed  to 
send    for   physicians,  he    readily    acquiesced, 


250  THE    LIFE  OF 

saying  that  he  would  not  neglect  the  ordinary 
means  of  health,  though  he  was  persuaded, 
that  the  Lord  would  soon  put  an  end  to  all  his 
troubles. 

It  was  his  ordinary  custom  to  read  some 
chapters  in  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  and 
also  several  Psalms,  the  whole  of  which  he 
regularly  read  over  once  a  month.  On  Thurs- 
day, he  was  too  sick  to  pursue  his  usual  course 
of  reading;  but  he  directed  his  wife,  and  Rich- 
ard Bannatyne,  his  secretary,  to  read  to  him 
every  day,  the  xvii.  Chapter  of  John,  the  liii. 
of  Isaiah,  and  a  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the 
Ephesians.  This  was  punctually  complied 
with  during  the  whole  time  of  his  sickness. 
He  also  selected  certain  Psalms,  and  some  of 
Calvin's  French  Sermons  on  Ephesians;  and 
when  asked  whether  he  heard,  he  would  an- 
swer, "I  hear,  and  I  praise  God  I  understand 
far  better."  These  words  he  uttered,  for  the 
last  time,  about  four  hours  before  his  death. 

The  same  day  that  he  was  seized,  he  direct- 
ed his  wife  to  pay  the  servants  their  wages, 
except  one  to  whom  he  gave  twenty  shillings 
above  his  due;  and  then  gave  suitable  exhor- 
tations to  them  all. 


JOHN  KNOX.  251 

On  the  14th  of  the  month,  he  arose  from 
bed  earlier  than  usual,  and  thinking  that  it 
was  the  Sabbath,  said,  that  he  meant  to  go  to 
church,  and  preach  on  the  resurrection  of 
Christ,  upon  which  he  had  meditated  through 
the  whole  night.  This  was  the  subject  on 
which  he  would  have  preached,  in  his  ordi- 
nary course.  But  he  was  so  weak,  that  it  re- 
quired  two  men  to  support  him  to  a  chair. 
Next  day,  at  noon,  .Tohn  Durie  and  Archibald 
Steward  came  to  see  him,  not  knowing  that 
he  was  sick;  he  prevailed  on  them  to  stay  to 
dinner,  and  he  sat  for  the  last  time  at  the 
table.  He  ordered  a  hogshead  of  wine  which 
was  in  his  cellar  to  be  pierced;  and  with  a 
hilarity  which  he  delighted  to  indulge,  among 
his  friends,  desired  Archibald  Steward  to  send 
for  some  of  it,  as  long  as  it  lasted;  for  he 
would  not  tarry  until  it  was  all  drunk. 

He  was  very  anxious  to  meet  once  more 
with  his  session,  that  he  might  leave  them  a 
dying  charge,  and  bid  them  a  last  farewell. 
Accordingly,  on  Monday  the  17th,  he  had 
them,  together  with  his  colleague  and  David 
Lindsay,  minister  of  Leith,  in  his  room. 
When  he  addressed  them  in  a  manner  so  sol- 


252  THE   LIFE   OF 

emn,  that  it  left  a  deep  impression  on  their 
minds.  He  spoke  to  them  in  the  following 
strain:  ^^  The  day  now  approaches  and  is  be- 
fore the  door,  for  which  I  hav^e  frequently  and 
vehemently  thirsted;  when  I  shall  be  released 
from  my  great  labours  and  innumerable  sor- 
rows, and  shall  be  with  Christ.  And  now, 
God  is  my  witness,  whom  I  have  served  in 
spirit,  in  the  Gospel  of  his  Son,  that  I  have 
taught  nothing  but  the  true  and  solid  doctrine 
of  the  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God;  and  have 
had  it  for  my  only  object,  to  instruct  the  igno- 
rant, to  confirm  the  faithful,  to  comfort  the 
weak,  the  fearful,  and  the  distressed,  by  the 
promises  of  grace;  and  to  fight  against  the 
proud  and  rebellious,  by  the  divine  threaten- 
ings.  I  know,  that  many  have  frequently  and 
loudly  complained,  and  do  yet  complain,  of 
my  too  great  severity;  but  God  knows,  that 
my  mind  was  always  void  of  hatred  to  the 
persons  of  those  against  whom  I  thundered  the 
severest  judgments.  I  cannot  deny,  but  that 
I  felt  the  greatest  abhorrence  of  the  sins  which 
they  indulged,  but  I  still  kept  this  one  thing 
in  view,  that,  if  possible,  I  might  gain  them  to 
the  Lord.     What  influenced   me  to  utter  so 


JOHN  KNOX.  253 

boldly  what  the  Lord  put  into  my  mouth, 
without  respect  of  persons,  was  a  reverend  fear 
of  my  God,  who,  of  his  grace,  called  and  ap- 
pointed me  to  be  a  steward  of  his  divine  mys- 
teries; and  a  belief  that  he  will  demand  of  me 
an  account  of  the  trust  committed  to  me,  when 
I  shall  stand  before  his  tribunal.  I  profess 
before  God  and  his  holy  angels,  that  I  never 
made  merchandize  of  the  word  of  God,  never 
studied  to  please  men,  never  indulged  my  own 
private  passions,  or  those  of  others,  but  faith- 
fully distributed  the  talent  entrusted  to  me  for 
the  edification  of  the  Church  over  which  I 
watched.  Whatever  obloquy  wicked  men  may 
cast  on  me  respecting  this  point,  I  rejoice  ia 
the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience.  In  the 
mean  time,  my  dearest  brethren,  do  you  perse- 
vere in  the  eternal  truth  of  the  Gospel.  Wait 
diligently  on  the  flock  over  which  the  Lord 
hath  set  you,  and  which  he  redeemed  with  the 
blood  of  his  only  begotten  Son.  And  thou, 
my  brother  Lavvson,  fight  the  good  fight  of 
faith,  and  do  the  work  of  the  Lord  joyfully 
and  resolutely.  The  Lord  from  on  high  bless 
you  and  the  whole  Church  of  Edinburg, 
against  whom,  as  long  as  they  persevere  in  the 


254  THE  LIFE   OF 

word  of  truth,  which  they  have  heard  of  me, 
the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail. '^ 

Having  warned  them  against  those  who  dis- 
owned the  King's  authority,  and  made  some 
observations  on  the  charge  which  Maitland 
had  lodged  against  him  before  the  session,  he 
was  so  exhausted  that  he  was  obliged  to  desist 
from  speaking.  Those  present  were  filled 
with  both  joy  and  grief  by  this  affecting  ad- 
dress. After  reminding  him  of  the  warfare 
which  he  had  endured,  and  the  triumph  which 
awaited  him,  and  joining  in  prayer,  they  took 
their  leave  of  him  in  tears.  When  they  were 
going  out  he  desired  his  colleague  and  Lind- 
say to  remain  behind,  to  whom  he  said,  "There 
is  one  thing  that  greatly  grieves  me.  You 
have  been  witnesses  of  the  former  courage  and 
constancy  of  Grange  in  the  cause  of  God;  but 
now,  alas,  into  what  a  gulf  has  he  precipi- 
tated himself!  I  entreat  you  not  to  refuse  to 
go  and  tell  him  from  me,  that  John  Knox  re- 
mains the  same  man  now  he  is  going  to  die, 
that  ever  he  knew  him  when  able  in  body, 
and  wills  him  to  consider  what  he  was,  and 
the  estate  in  which  he  now  stands,  which  is  a 
great  part  of  his  trouble.     Neither  the  craggy 


JOHN  KNOX.  255 

rock  in  which  he  miserably  confides,  nor  the 
carnal  prudence  of  that  man,  (Maitland,)  whom 
he  esteems  a  demi-god,  nor  the  assistance  of 
strangers,  shall  preserve  him;  but  he  shall  be 
disgracefully  dragged  from  his  nest  to  punish- 
ment, and  hung  on  a  gallows  before  the  face  of 
the  sun,  unless  he  speedily  amend  his  life,  and 
flee  to  the  mercy  of  God.  That  man's  soul  is 
dear  to  me,  and  1  would  not  have  it  perish,  if 
I  could  save  it.''  The  ministers  undertook  to 
execute  this  commission,  and  going  up  to  the 
castle,  obtained  an  interview  with  the  Gover- 
nor and  delivered  their  message.  He,  at 
first,  exhibited  some  symptoms  of  relenting, 
but  having  consulted  with  Maitland,  he  re- 
turned and  gave  them  a  very  unpleasant  an- 
swer. This  being  reported  to  Knox,  he  was 
much  grieved,  and  said,  that  he  had  been 
very  earnest  in  prayer  for  that  man,  and  he 
still  trusted  that  his  soul  would  be  saved, 
although  his  body  should  come  to  a  miserable 
end. 

After  his  interview  with  his  session,  his 
complaint  became  worse,  and  his  difficulty  of 
breathing  was  such,  that  he  could  not  speak 
but  with  much  pain.     Still  he  received  all  that 


256  THE  LIFE   OF 

came,  and  addressed  himself  to  his  visiters 
with  wonderful  suitableness  and  variety,  ac- 
cording to  their  respective  characters.  Among 
these  were  some  of  the  nobility,  who  had  trea- 
ted him  badly,  and  now  came  to  acknowledge 
their  faults  and  beg  his  pardon.  Many  of  his 
sayings  and  exhortations  to  particular  persons 
have  been  preserved,  but  it  is  not  convenient 
to  insert  them  here. 

On  Friday,  November  21st,  he  desired  his 
servant,  Richard  Bannatyne,  to  order  his  coffin 
to  be  made.  During  that  day  he  was  much 
engaged  in  meditation  and  prayer.  These 
words  were  often  in  his  mouth,  "  Come  Lord 
Jesus.  Sweet  Jesus,  into  thy  hands  I  commit 
my  spirit.  Be  merciful  Lord  to  thy  Church, 
which  thou  hast  redeemed.  Give  peace  to 
this  afflicted  commonwealth.  Raise  up  faith- 
ful pastors,  who  will  take  charge  of  thy 
Church.  Grant  us.  Lord,  the  perfect  hatred 
of  sin,  both  by  the  evidences  of  thy  wrath  and 
mercy."  In  the  midst  of  his  meditations,  he 
would  often  address  those  around  in  such  sen- 
tences as  these,  ^'0  serve  the  Lord  in  fear, 
and  death  shall  not  be  terrible  to  you.  Nay, 
blessed  shall  death  be  to  those  who  have  felt 


JOHN  KNOX.  257 

the  power  of  the  death  of  the  only  begotten 
Son  of  God." 

On  the  23d,  which  was  the  Sabbath,  he 
broke  out  into  the  following  rapturous  expres- 
sions: ^^  I  have  been  these  two  nights  in  medi- 
tation on  the  troubled  state  of  the  Church  of 
God,  the  spouse  of  Jesus  Christ,  despised  of 
the  world,  but  precious  in  the  sight  of  God. 
I  have  called  to  God  for  her,  I  have  committed 
her  to  her  head,  Jesus  Christ.  I  have  fought 
against  spiritual  wickedness  in  heavenl}''  things, 
I  have  prevailed.  I  have  been  in  heaven,  I 
have  possession.  I  have  tasted  of  heavenly 
joys,  where  presently  I  am.'^  He  then  re- 
peated the  Lord's  Prayer  and  Creed,  interject- 
ing some  devout  aspirations  at  the  end  of  every 
petition  and  article. 

After  sermon,  many  came  to  visit  him;  and 
perceiving  that  he  breathed  with  great  diffi- 
culty, some  asked  him  if  he  felt  much  pain. 
He  answered,  that  he  was  willing  to  live  there 
for  years,  if  God  so  pleased,  and  if  he  contin- 
ued to  shine  on  his  soul  through  Jesus  Christ. 
When  they  thought  him  asleep,  he  was  em- 
ployed in  meditation,  and  at  intervals  exhorted 
and  prayed.     "  Live  in  Christ,  live  in  Christ,'' 

23 


258  THE  LIFE  OF 

said  he,  "and  then  flesh  need  not  fear  death. 
Lord  grant  true  pastors  to  thy  Church,  that 
purity  of  doctrine  may  be  retained.  Restore 
peace  again  to  the  commonwealth,  and  godly 
rulers  and  magistrates.  Once,  Lord,  make  an 
end  of  my  trouble."  Stretching  his  hands 
towards  heaven,  he  said,  "  Lord,  I  commend 
my  spirit,  soul,  and  body,  and  all,  into  thy 
hands.  Thou  knowest,  0  Lord,  my  troubles, 
I  do  not  murmur  against  thee."  But  his  pi- 
ous ejaculations  were  so  numerous  that  few  of 
them  could  be  remembered.  That  night  his 
pain  greatly  increased. 

Monday,  the  24th  of  November,  was  the 
last  day  that  he  spent  on  earth.  That  morn- 
ing he  could  not  be  persuaded  to  lie  in  bed, 
but  by  the  help  of  others  arose,  and  sat  upon 
a  chair  for  the  space  of  half  an  hour.  In  the 
progress  of  the  day  it  appeared,  that  his  end 
drew  nigh.  A  number  of  his  friends  waited 
around  his  bed.  To  one  he  said,  "  I  must 
leave  the  care  of  my  wife  and  children  to  you, 
to  whom  you  must  be  a  husband,  in  my  room." 
He  desired  his  wife  to  read  the  fifteenth  chap- 
ter of  1st  Corinthians;  and  then  said_,  "Is 
not  that  a  comfortable  chapter  ?   0  what  sweet 


JOHN  KNOX.  259 

and  salutary  consolation  the  Lord  hath  afford- 
ed me,  from  that  chapter."  After  some  time, 
he  fell  into  a  slumber,  and  uttered  heavy 
groans;  and  the  attendants  looked  every  mo- 
ment for  his  dissolution.  But  he  av/akened, 
as  if  from  sleep,  and  being  asked  what  caused 
him  to  groan  so  heavily,  he  said,  ^'  I  have  for- 
merly, during  my  life,  sustained  many  con- 
tests, and  many  assaults  of  Satan;  but,  at  pre- 
sent, that  roaring  lion  hath  assailed  me  most 
furiously,  and  put  forth  all  his  strength  to  de- 
vour, and  make  an  end  of  me  at  once.  Often 
before  he  has  placed  my  sins  before  me,  and 
tempted  me  to  despair,  and  often  endeavoured 
to  ensnare  me  by  the  allurements  of  the 
world;  but  resisted  by  the  sword  of  the  Spi- 
rit, he  could  not  prevail.  Now,  he  has  at- 
tacked me  in  another  way.  The  cunning  ser- 
pent has  endeavoured  to  persuade  me,  that  I 
have  merited  heaven  and  eternal  blessedness, 
by  the  faithful  discharge  of  my  ministry.  But, 
blessed  be  God,  who  has  enabled  me  to  quench 
the  fiery  dart,  by  suggesting,  "What  hast  thou 
that  thou  hast  not  received  ?  By  the  grace  of 
God  I  am  what  I  am.  Not  I,  but  the  grace  of 
God  in  me.    Wherefore,  I  give  thanks  to  God 


260  THE  LIFE   OF 

through  Jesus  Christ,  that  he  hath  strength- 
ened me,  and  has  given  me  the  victory." 
And  I  am  persuaded,  the  tempter  shall  not 
again  attack  me,  but  within  a  short  time, 
I  shall,  without  any  great  bodily  pain,  or  an- 
guish of  mind,  exchange  this  mortal  and  mise- 
rable life,  for  a  blessed  immortality,  through 
Jesus  Christ." 

He  lay  now,  for  several  hours,  as  though  he 
had  been  asleep.  About  ten  in  the  evening, 
prayers  were  offered,  and  Dr.  Preston  asked 
him  whether  he  heard.  He  answered,  "I 
would  to  God,  that  3^ou  and  all  men  had  heard 
them  as  I  have  heard  them.  I  praise  God  for 
that  heavenly  sound." 

At  eleven  o'clock,  he  gave  a  deep  sigh  and 
said,  710W  it  is  come.  Richard  Bannatyne  im- 
mediately drew  near,  and  desired  him  to  think 
upon  those  comfortable  promises  of  our  Sa- 
viour Jesus  Christ,  which  he  had  so  often  de- 
clared to  others.  But  perceiving  that  he  was 
speechless,  he  desired  him  to  give  them  a 
sign  that  he  heard,  and  died  in  peace.  Where- 
upon, he  lifted  up  one  of  his  hands,  and  sigh- 
ing twice,  expired  without  a  struggle. 

He  died  in  the  sixty-seventh   year  of  his 


JOHN    KNOX.  261 

age;  not  so  much  oppressed  with  years,  as 
worn  out  and  exhausted  by  his  extraordinary 
labours  of  body  and  mind.  Few  men  were 
ever  exposed  to  more  dangers,  or  underwent 
such  hardships.  He  only  emerged  from  one 
sea  of  troubles  to  plunge  into  another. 

On  Wednesday,  the  26th  of  November,  he 
was  interred  in  the  church  yard  of  St.  Giles. 
His  funeral  was  attended  by  the  newly  elected 
Regent,  Morton;  by  the  nobility  who  were  in 
the  city,  and  a  great  concourse  of  people. 
When  his  body  was  laid  in  the  grave,  the  Re- 
gent pronounced  his  eulogium  in  the  well 
known  words — "There  lies  he,  who  never 

FEARED  the  FACE  OF  MAN." 


HIS   CHARACTER. 

John  Knox,  according  to  the  acknowledg- 
ment of  all,  was  a  very  remarkable  man.  His 
natural  powers  were  undoubtedly  great.  In- 
quisitive, ardent,  acute;  vigorous  and  bold  in 
his  conceptions,  he  entered  into  all  the  sub- 
tleties of  the  scholastic  logic  then  in  vogue; 
yet  disgusted  with  its  barren  results,  sought 
23* 


262  THE   LIFE   OF 

out  a  new  course  of  study,  which  gradually 
led  to  a  complete  revolution  in  his  sentiments. 
His  early  education  was  not  equal  to  that 
afforded  by  the  universities  on  the  continent, 
at  that  time;  but  his  abilities  and  application, 
made  up,  in  a  great  measure,  for  these  disad- 
vantages. He  remained  a  stranger  to  no 
branch  of  learning,  cultivated  by  men  of  his 
profession.  He  united  the  love  of  study  with 
a  disposition  to  active  employment;  qualities 
seldom  found  in  the  same  person.  The  truths 
which  he  discovered,  he  felt  an  irresistible 
impulse  to  impart  to  others;  for  which  he  was 
qualified,  by  a  bold  and  fervid  eloquence,  sin- 
gularly adapted  to  arrest  the  attention,  and 
govern  the  minds  of  a  fierce  and  unpolished 
people.  His  zeal  for  the  reformed  doctrines 
which  he  had  embraced,  made  him  willing,  for 
the  sake  of  propagating  them,  to  sacrifice  his 
ease,  interest,  reputation,  and  life  itself.  An 
ardent  attachment  to  civil  liberty  held  the 
next  place  in  his  breast,  after  the  love  of  evan- 
gelical truth.  That  his  motives  in  prosecu- 
ting these  objects  were  of  the  most  disinte- 
rested kind,  does  not  admit  of  a  doubt,  what- 
ever opinion  may  be  formed  of  some  of  the 


JOHN  KNOX.  263 

means  made  use  of  for  that  purpose.  In  fact, 
he  only  thought  of  glorifying  God,  and  pro- 
moting the  welfare  of  his  country.  By  his 
intrepidity,  indefatigable  activity,  and  invin- 
cible constancy,  he  was  admirably  fitted  for 
the  arduous  work  to  which,  in  the  providence 
of  God,  he  was  called.  His  integrity  was 
above  the  suspicion  of  corruption;  and  his 
firmness  was  proof,  equally,  against  the  solici- 
tations of  friends,  and  the  threats  of  enemies. 
Although  his  courage  and  impetuosity  led 
him  frequently  to  expose  himself  to  imminent 
danger,  yet  we  never  find  him  inattentive  to 
those  prudent  precautions,  which  his  safety 
required.  The  confidence  which  his  country- 
men reposed  in  his  sagacity,  as  well  as  hones- 
ty, is  evident  from  the  whole  history  of  those 
times.  All  the  measures  adopted  for  advan- 
cing the  Reformation  were  at  his  suggestions, 
or  submitted  to  his  advice;  and  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted, that  they  were  as  wisely  planned,  as 
boldly  executed. 

His  ministerial  functions  wese  discharged 
with  the  greatest  assiduity,  fidelity,  and  fer- 
vour. No  avocation  or  infirmity  prevented 
him  from  appearing  in  the  pulpit.     Preaching 


264  THE  LIFE  OF 

was  an  employment  in  which  he  delighted, 
and  for  which  he  was  qualified,  by  an  exten- 
sive acquaintance  with  the  Scriptures,  and 
the  happy  art  of  applying  them  in  the  most 
happy  manner,  to  the  existing  circumstances 
of  the  church,  and  of  his  hearers.  His  power 
of  alarming  the  conscience,  and  arousing  the 
passions,  have  been  frequently  mentioned:  but 
he  excelled  also  in  opening  up  the  consola- 
tions of  the  Gospel,  and  calming  the  troubles 
of  those  who  were  wounded  with  a  sense  of 
their  sins.  And  when  he  discoursed  of  the 
griefs  and  joys,  the  conflicts  and  triumphs  of 
Christians,  he  declared  what  he  himself  had 
experienced. 

With  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  he  lived 
in  the  utmost  cordiality.  We  never  read  of 
the  slightest  variance  between  him  and  any 
of  his  colleagues.  While  he  was  an  object  of 
hatred  and  terror  to  the  licentious  and  profane, 
he  was  venerated  and  loved  by  the  religious 
and  sober  part  of  his  congregation.  In  private 
life  he  was  both  loved  and  revered  by  his 
friends  and  domestics.  He  was  subject  to  oc- 
casional fits  of  melancholy  and  depression  of 
spirits,  arising  partly   from   natural  constitu- 


JOHN  KNOX.  265 

tlon,  and  partly  from  the  diseases  which  had 
long  preyed  upon  his  health.  While  these 
continued,  his  temper  was  irritable,  and  his 
conversation  less  affable  than  it  was  wont  to 
be.  This  he  confessed,  and  begged  the  in- 
dulgence of  his  friends,  but  his  friendship  was 
sincere,  affectionate,  and  constant.  At  other 
times,  he  relished  the  pleasures  of  society,  and 
among;  his  friends,  was  accustomed  to  unbend 
from  severer  cares,  by  indulging  in  innocent  re- 
creation and  the  sallies  of  wit  and  humour,  to 
to  which  he  had  a  strong  propensity,  notwith- 
standing the  grave  tone  of  his  general  character. 
Most  of  his  faults  may  be  traced  to  his 
natural  temperament,  and  the  character  of 
the  age  and  country  in  which  he  lived.  His 
passions  were  strong.  He  felt  with  keen- 
ness on  every  subject  which  interested  him, 
and  what  he  felt  he  expressed  without  any 
disguise  or  affectation.  The  warmth  of  his 
zeal  was  apt  to  betray  him  into  intempe- 
rate language;  and  the  inflexibility  of  his  ad- 
herence to  opinions,  once  adopted,  inclined 
him  to  obstinacy:  and  this  independence  of 
mind,  occasionally  assumed  the  appearance  of 
haughtiness  and  disdain.     In  administering  de- 


266  THE  LIFE  OF 

served  reproofs,  he  regarded  not  the  rank  or 
character  of  the  offender;  and  he  was  prone 
to  utter  his  admonitions  with  an  acrimony  and 
vehemence,  more  apt  to  irritate,  than  reclaim. 
But  in  his  sharpest  reproofs,  he  protested? 
that  his  hatred  was  not  directed  against  the 
persons,  but  the  vices  of  those  reproved.  He 
was  stern,  not  savage;  austere,  not  unfeeling. 
He  never  employed  his  influence  to  obtain 
revenge  for  a  personal  injury;  and  rigid  as 
were  his  notions  of  the  execution  of  justice, 
there  are  more  instances  of  his  interceding  for 
the  pardon  of  criminals,  than  perhaps  of  any 
man  of  his  time.  His  conduct  at  Frankfort 
demonstrates  his  moderation  in  religious  dif- 
ferences among  brethren.  The  liberties  which 
he  took  in  the  pulpit  of  animadverting  on  the 
actions  of  individuals,  of  the  highest  rank  and 
station,  seems  strange,  to  us  but  accorded  with 
the  customs  of  that  age. 

Most  would  be  ready  to  conclude,  from  the 
labours  he  underwent,  that  he  was  of  a  robust 
constitution.  The  fact,  however,  was  not  so. 
He  was  of  small  stature,  and  of  a  weakly 
habit  of  body;  which  circumstance  gives  us  a 
higher  idea  of  the  indomitable  vigour  of  his 


JOHN  KNOX.  267 

mind.  His  portrait  was  taken  more  than  once 
during  his  life.  He,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  times,  wore  his  beard  long,  reaching  to 
his  middle,  which  gave  him  a  venerable  ap- 
pearance. 

He  has  been  accused  of  setting  up  for  a 
prophet,  and  pretending  to  enter  into  the  se- 
cret counsels  of  the  Most  High.  To  this  he 
answered,  that  he  did  no  more  than  denounce 
the  just  judgments  of  God  against  enormous 
wickedness,  as  he  found  them  in  his  word. 
But  there  are  some  instances  in  which  he 
seems  to  have  had  a  kind  of  prophetic  fore- 
sight, of  the  particular  kind  of  judgments 
which  would  be  executed  on  certain  public 
oifenders  against  God  and  his  people,  as  in  the 
case  of  Thomas  Maitland,  and  Kircaldy  of 
Grange.  For  although  the  canon  of  our  faith 
has  long  been  complete,  and  is  comprehended 
in  the  Old  and  New  Testament;  yet  this  does 
not  hinder,  but  that  God  may  now  sometimes 
forewarn  certain  persons  of  events  which  will 
happen,  to  testify  his  approbation  of  them,  as 
well  as  to  encourage  them  to  confide  in  him 
in  peculiar  circumstances  of  difficulty  and 
danger;  or  for  other  purposes  unknown  to  us. 


268  THE  LIFE  OF 

And  in  this  opinion  there  is  nothing  inconsis- 
tent with  natural  or  revealed  religion.  If  this 
is  enthusiasm,  it  is  an  enthusiasm  into  which 
some  of  the  most  enlightened  and  sober  men, 
in  modern,  as  well  as  ancient  times  have  fal- 
len. The  Reformers  were  men  of  extraordi- 
nary piety.  They  walked  with  God,  were 
instant  in  prayer,  were  exposed  to  uncommon 
opposition,  and  had  uncommon  services  to 
perform.  They  were,  therefore,  endued  with 
extraordinary  gifts,  and  I  am  inclined  to  be- 
lieve that  some  of  them  were  occasionally 
favoured  with  extraordinary  premonitions, 
with  respect  to  certain  events  which  concern- 
ed themselves,  other  individuals,  or  the  church 
of  God.  But  whatever  intimations  of  this 
kind  they  enjoyed,  they  did  not  rest  the  au- 
thority of  their  mission  upon  them,  nor  appeal 
to  them  as  constituting  any  part  of  the  evi- 
dence of  those  doctrines  which  they  preached 
to  the  world. 

That  the  memory  of  Knox  should  be  loaded 
with  obloquy  by  the  prejudiced  writers  of  the 
Romish  communion,  is  in  accordancee  with 
their  treatment  of  Luther,  Zuingle,  Calvin, 
and  all  the  Reformers;  for  no  one  of  these 


^    JOHN  KNOX.  269 

acted  a  more  conspicuous  and  effective  part  in 
overthrowing  the  religious  establishment  of 
that  corrupt  and  apostate  church  than  our  re- 
former, as  far  as  relates  to  his  own  country. 
The  calumnies  and  slanders  vented  against 
him  gained  but  little  credit  and  have  long 
since  sunk  into  oblivion.  Knox  was  known 
and  esteemed  by  the  principal  persons  among 
the  reformed,  in  France,  Switzerland,  and  Ger- 
many. Calvin  was  his  intimate  friend,  and 
esteemed  him  highly;  as  appears  by  his  let- 
ters addressed  to  him.  Beza,  the  successor 
of  Calvin,  was  also  personally  acquainted  with 
him;  and  in  the  correspondence  which  he 
kept  up  with  him,  expressed  the  warmest  re- 
gard and  highest  esteem  for  him;  and  in  his 
account  of  "  Illustrious  Men,^'  gave  an  affec- 
tionate tribute  to  his  memory;  as  did  also 
Melchior  Adam  of  Germany,  Verheiden  of 
Holland,  La  Roque  of  P'rance.  Senebier,  the 
late  historian  of  Geneva,  though  entertaining 
very  different  sentiments  from  our  reformer, 
says,  "  that  he  immortalized  himself  by  his 
courage  against  popery,  and  his  firmness 
against  the  tyranny  of  Mary."     And  though 

24 


270  THE  LIFE  OF 

violent,  he  was  always  an  open  and  honour- 
able enemy  to  the  Catholics. 

In  Scotland,  the  affectionate  veneration  in 
which  Knox's  memory  was  held  after  his 
death,  evinces  the  influence  which  he  possessed 
among  his  countrymen  during  his  life.  It  is  a 
remarkable  circumstance,  that  he  had  a  servant 
of  so  distinguished  a  character  for  piety  and 
intelligence,  that  he  gave  his  character  in  the 
General  Assembly.  This  was  John  Banna- 
tyne,  of  whom  frequent  mention  has  been  made 
already;  but  the  word  servant  was,  in  those 
days,  so  used  as  to  include  clerk  or  secretary; 
or  the  person  who  attended  to  the  business  of 
his  master.  This  man  lived  long  in  the  fa- 
mily, and  continued  to  serve  this  man  of  God, 
more  from  an  esteem  of  him  than  for  emolu- 
ment. Indeed,  it  appears  that  he  was  a  man 
of  respectability  and  learning.  Plis  testimony 
is,  therefore,  worthy  of  regard.  After  giving 
an  account  of  his  last  days,  he  says,  "  In  this 
manner  departed  this  man  of  God;  the  light 
of  Scotland,  the  comfort  of  the  Church  within 
the  same:  the  mirror  of  godliness,  and  pattern 
and  example  of  all  true  ministers,  in  purity  of 
life,  soundness  of  doctrine,   and  boldness  in 


JOHN    KNOX.  271 

reproving  wickedness:  one  that  cared  not  for 
the  favour  of  men,  how  great  soever  they 
were.  What  dexterity  in  teaching,  what  bold- 
ness in  reproving  and  hatred  of  wickedness 
was  in  him,  my  ignorant  duhiess  is  not  able  to 
declare;  and  which  if  I  could  set  out,  it  were 
as  one  who  would  light  a  candle  to  let  men 
see  the  sun,  seeing  all  his  virtues  are  better 
known  to  the  world,  a  thousand  fold,  than  I 
am  able  to  express.  ^^ 

Principal  Smeton's  character  of  him,  while 
it  is  less  liable  to  the  suspicion  of  partiality,  is 
equally  honourable.  "  I  know  not,"  says  he, 
"  if  ever  so  much  piety  and  genius  were  lodged 
in  such  a  frail  and  weak  body.  Certain  I  am, 
that  it  will  be  difficult  to  find  one  in  whom 
the  gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit  shone  so  bright  to 
the  comfort  of  the  Church  of  Scotland.  None 
spared  himself  less  in  enduring  fatigues  of  body 
and  mind:  none  were  more  intent  on  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  the  province  assigned  to 
him.'^ 

The  divines  of  the  Church  of  England,  who 
were  contemporary  with  him,  or  who  survived 
him,  entertained  a  great  respect  for  his  char- 
acter.    Some  of  the  chief  men  among  them 


272  THE  LIFE  OF 

were  personally  acquainted  with  him  during 
his  residence  in  England  and  on  the  continent. 
Others  corresponded  with  him  by  letters.  His 
writings  were  greatly  esteemed  by  them,  so 
that  they  procured  his  manuscripts  from  Scot- 
land, and  published  some  of  them.  But  to- 
wards the  close  of  the  16th  century,  there 
arose  a  race  of  prelates  of  another  spirit,  who 
began  to  inculcate  the  divine  right  of  episco- 
pacy, and  the  intrinsic  excellency  of  a  cere- 
monious worship,  and  to  adopt  a  new  language 
respecting  other  reformed  churches.  Dr.  Ban- 
croft, afterwards  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
was  the  first  who  spoke  disrespectfully  of 
Knox;  after  whom  it  became  fashionable 
among  the  hierarchical  party.  This  was  re- 
sented~  by  the  ministers  of  Scotland,  who 
warmly  vindicated  the  character  of  their  re- 
former. James  VI.  said  to  Melville,  "that 
Knox,  Buchanan,  and  the  Regent  Murray, 
could  be  defended  by  none  but  traitors  and 
seditious  theologues."  Melville  replied,  "that 
these  were  the  men  who  set  the  crown  on  his 
head,  and  deserved  better  of  him  than  to  be 
thus  traduced." 

Spottiswood  described  him,  "as  a  man  en- 


JOHN  KNOX.  273 

dowed  with  rare  gifts,  and  a  chief  instrument 
of  God  for  the  work  of  those  times/' 

Our  reformer  was  never  a  favourite  with  the 
friends  of  absolute  monarchy;  and  in  later 
times,  since  many  have  been  infected  with  the 
spirit  of  infidelity,  and  a  spurious  charity  to- 
wards the  Roman  Catholics  has  come  into 
vogue,  the  character  of  Knox  has  not  been 
appreciated  as  it  was  in  better  days.  But 
since  the  publication  of  Dr.  McCrie's  life  of 
him,  of  which  this  is  a  mere  abridgment,  the 
attention  of  the  public  has  been  more  impar- 
tially directed  to  the  subject;  and,  at  least 
among  Presbyterians  in  America,  who  have 
derived  their  Confession  and  Form  of  Govern- 
ment from  Scotland,  the  character  of  John 
Knox  will  continue  to  be  venerated  as  long  as 
these  formularies  shall  be  retained,  and  have 
their  due  influence  on  the  minds  of  the  people. 

Knox,  as  we  have  seen,  was  twice  married. 
He  left  behind  him  a  widow  and  five  children. 
His  two  sons,  Nathaniel  and  Eleazer,  were  the 
children  of  his  first  wife,  Mrs.  Marjory  Bowes. 
In  the  year  1566,  they  went  to  England, 
where  their  mother's  relations  resided.     They 

24* 


274  THE  LIFE  OF 

received  their  education  in  St.  John's  College, 
Cambridge;  and  after  finishing  it^  both  died 
in  the  prime  of  life.  And  as  they  died  with- 
out issue,  the  family  of  the  reformer  was  ex- 
tinct in  the  male  line.  His  other  three  chil- 
dren were  daughters,  by  his  second  wife.  His 
widow  was  married  to  Sir  Andrew  Ker,  a 
strenuous  supporter  of  the  Reformation.  One 
of  his  daughters  was  married  to  Robert  Pont, 
minister  of  St.  Cuthberts;  another  to  James 
Fleming,  also  a  minister  of  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land; and  Elizabeth,  the  third  daughter,  was 
married  to  Mr.  John  Welch,  minister  of  Ayr. 
Mrs.  Welch  seems  to  have  inherited  some  of 
her  father's  spirit,  and  she  had  her  share  of 
hardships  similar  to  his.  Her  husband  was 
one  of  those  who  resisted  the  arbitrary  mea- 
sures pursued  by  James  VI.,  for  overturning 
the  government  and  liberties  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  of  Scotland.  For  attending  the 
General  Assembly  of  1605  at  Aberdeen,  after 
the  King  had  directed  it  to  be  adjourned  sine 
die,  he  was  imprisoned;  and  for  afterwards  de- 
clining the  Privy  Council,  as  not  proper  judg- 
es, he  and  four  other  ministers  were  arraigned, 


JOHN  KNOX.  275 

and  by  a  packed  jury  condemned  to  death. 
When  informed  of  the  sentence,  their  wives, 
instead  of  lamenting  their  fate,  praised  God 
who  had  given  their  husbands  courage  to  stand 
to  the  cause  of  their  Master.  The  sentence 
having  been  commuted  to  banishment,  Mrs. 
Welch  accompanied  her  husband  to  France, 
where  they  remained  for  sixteen  years.  Mr. 
Welch's  health  having  failed, the  physicians  ad- 
vised a  return  to  his  native  country,  as  affording 
the  only  prospect  of  a  cure.  They  arrived  in 
London  in  1622,  and  she,  by  means  of  some 
relations,  petitioned  for  liberty  to  return  to 
Scotland.  On  this  occasion  she  was  admitted 
to  the  royal  presence,  and  the  conversation 
which  passed  between  her  and  King  James  of 
England,  is  truly  characteristic  of  both  these 
personages.  She  showed  that  the  spirit  and 
boldness  of  John  Knox  were  full  inherited. 

Knox  did  not  consider  himself  called  so 
much  to  enlighten  posterity  by  his  pen,  as  to 
perform  active  labour  for  the  existing  genera- 
tion. On  this  subject,  he  says,  "  For  consider- 
ing myself  rather  called  of  God  to  instruct  the 
ignorant,  comfort  the  sorrowful,  confirm  the 


276  THE  LIFE  OP 

weak,  and  rebuke  the  proud  by  tongue,  and 
lively  voice,  in  these  most  corrupt  days,  than 
to  compose  books  for  the  age  to  come;  seeing 
that  so  much  is  written,  and  by  men  of  most 
singular  erudition,  yet  so  little  well  observed, 
I  decreed  to  contain  myself  within  the  bounds 
of  that  vocation  to  which  I  found  myself  espe- 
cially called. '^  When  deprived  of  the  oppor- 
tunity of  doing  this  during  his  exile,  he  pre- 
pared letters,  exhortations,  and  admonitions, 
by  which  he  called  to  the  remembrance  of  the 
people  those  truths,  which  they  had  already 
received.  These  were  circulated  and  read  with 
far  more  ease,  and  to  a  far  greater  extent,  than 
large  treatises  could  have  been.  Of  the  many 
sermons  which  he  preached,  he  never  publish- 
ed more  than  one,  which  was  extorted  from 
him  by  peculiar  circumstances;  and  that  one 
aflfords  a  very  favourable  specimen  of  his 
talents.  If  he  had  applied  himself  to  writing, 
he  was  qualified  to  excel  in  that  department. 
He  had  a  ready  command  of  language,  and 
expressed  himself  with  perspicuity,  and  with 
great  animation  and  force.  Though  he  des- 
pised the  tinsel  of  eloquence,   yet  when  he 


JOHN  KNOX.  277 

had  leisure  and  inclination  to  polish  his  style, 
he  showed  that  he  was  not  unacquainted  with 
the  principles  of  the  rhetorical  art.  While 
resident  in  England,  he  contracted  the  habit 
of  writing  the  language,  according  to  the 
usage  of  that  country;  and  in  all  his  publica- 
tions, which  appeared  during  his  life  time, 
the  English,  and  not  the  Scottish  orthography 
and  mode  of  expression,  are  used.  His  tract 
against  female  government,  was  a  hasty  pro- 
duction, and  written  under  exasperated  feel- 
ings, produced  by  hearing  of  the  cruelties  of 
Mary. 

His  History  of  the  Reformation  was  under- 
taken during  the  confusions  of  the  civil  war, 
and  was  afterwards  continued,  at  intervals, 
snatched  from  numerous  avocations.  The  col- 
lection of  historical  materials  must  be  a  work 
of  labour  and  time;  but  the  digesting  them 
into  a  regular  narrative,  requires  much  leisure 
and  undivided  attention.  The  want  of  them 
sufficiently  accounts  for  the  confusion  observa- 
ble in  many  parts  of  that  work;  but  notwith- 
standing its  defects,  it  continues  to  be  the 
principal  source  of  information  respecting  the 
ecclesiastical  proceedings  of  that  period. 


278  THE  LIFE  OF  JOHN  KNOX. 

His  only  published  theological  work,  is  a 
treatise  on  Predestination,  which  indicates 
much  controversial  acuteness,  composed  with 
becoming  caution. 


279 


PRAYER 

Used  by  John  Knox,  after  the  Regent^s 
death. 

0  Lord,  what  shall  we  add  to  the  former 
petitions  we  know  not;  yea,  alace,  0  Lord, 
our  owne  consciences  bear  us  record  that  we 
are  unworthie  that  thou  should  either  encreass 
or  yet  continue  thy  graces  with  us,  be  reason 
of  our  horrible  ingratitude.  In  our  extreme 
miseries,  we  called,  and  thou  in  the  multitude 
of  thy  mercies  heard  us,  and  first  thou  deliver- 
ed us  from  the  tyrannie  of  merciless  strangers, 
next  from  the  bondage  of  idolatry,  and  last 
from  the  yoak  of  that  wretched  woman,  the 
mother  of  all  mischife,  and  in  her  place  thou 
didst  erect  her  sonne,  and  to  supply  his  infan- 
cie  thou  didst  appoynt  a  Regent  endued  with 
such  graces  as  the  divell  himself  cannot  ac- 
cuse or  justly  convict  him  this  only  excepted 
that  foolish  pity  did  so  farre  prevaill  in  him, 
concerning  execution  and  punishment  which 
thou  commanded  to  have  been  execute  upon 


280 

her,  and  upon  her  complices,  the  murtherers 
of  her  husband.     0  Lord,  in  what  miserie  and 
confusion  found  he  this  realme!    To  what  rest 
and  quietnesse  now  be  his  labours  suddanlie 
he  brought  the  same,  all  estates,  but  speciallie 
the  poor  commons,  can  witness.     Thy  image. 
Lord,  did  so  clearlie  shyne  in  that  personage, 
that  the  divell,  and  the  wicked  to  whom  he  is 
prince,  could  not  abyde  it.     And  so  to  punish 
our  sinnes  and  ingratitude,  who  did  not  ryght- 
lie  esteem  so  pretious  a  gift,  thou  hes  permit- 
ted  him   to  fall,  to  our    great  griefe,  in  the 
hands  of  cruell  and  traterous  murtherers.      He 
is  at  rest,  0  Lord,  and  we  are  left  in  extreame 
miserie.     Be  mercifull  to  us,  and   suffer  not 
Satan  to  prevaill  against  thy  little  flocke  with- 
in this  Realme,  neither  yet  0  Lord  let  bloode 
thirsty  men  come  to  the  end  of  their  wicked 
enterprises.     Preserve,    0   Lord,   our   young 
king,  although  he  be  ane  infant;  give  unto 
him  the  spirit  of  sanctification,  with  encreasse 
of  the  same  as  he  groweth  in  years.      Let  his 
raigne,  0  Lord,  be  such  as  thou  may  be  glori- 
fied,  and   thy   little   flock    comforted    by   it. 
Seeing  that  we  are  now  left  as  a  flock  without 
a  pastor,  in  civill  policie,  and  as  a  shippe  with- 


281 

out  a  rudder  in  the  midst  of  the  storm,  let  thy 
providence  watch,  Lord,  and  defend  us  in 
these  dangerous  dayes,  that  the  wicked  of  the 
world  may  see  that  as  weill  without  the  help 
of  man,  as  with  it,  thou  art  able  to  rule,  main- 
tain and  defend  the  little  flock  that  dependeth 
upon  thee.  And  because,  0  Lord,  the  shed- 
ding of  innocent  bloode  hes  ever  been,  and 
yet  is  odious  in  thy  presence,  yea,  that  it  de- 
fyleth  the  whole  land  where  it  is  shed  and  not 
punished,  we  crave  of  thee,  for  Christ  thy 
sonnes  sake,  that  thou  wilt  so  try  and  punish 
the  two  treasonable  and  cruell  murthers  latelie 
committed,  that  the  inventars,  devysers,  au- 
thors, and  maintainers  of  treasonable  crueltie, 
may  be  either  thoroughlie  converted  or  con- 
founded. 0  Lord,  if  thy  mercy  prevent  us 
not,  we  cannot  escape  just  condemnation,  for 
that  Scotland  hath  spared,  and  England  hath 
maintained  the  lyfe  of  that  most  wicked 
woman.  Oppose  thy  power,  0  Lord,  to  the 
pryde  of  that  cruel  murtherer  of  her  owne  hus- 
band; confound  her  faction  and  their  subtile 
enterprises  of  what  estate  and  condition  soever 
they  be;  and  let  them  and  the  world  know 
that  thou  art  a  God  that  can  deprehend  the 

25 


282 

wise  in  their  own  wisdomc,  and  the  proudc 
in  the  imagination  of  their  wicked  hearts,  to 
their  everlasting  confusion.  Lord,  retain  us 
that  call  upon  thee  in  thy  true  fear.  Let  us 
grow  in  the  same.  Give  thou  strength  to  us 
to  fight  our  battell,  yea  Lord,  to  fight  it  law- 
fullie,  and  to  end  our  lifes  in  the  sanctification 
of  thy  holie  name. 


The  last  will  and  words  of  John  Knox  min- 
ister of  the  Evangell  of  Jesus  Christ,  put 
in  order  at  St.  Andrews,  the  I3th  May, 
1572. 

Lord  Jesus,  I  commend  my  troubled  spirit 
in  thy  protection  and  defence,  and  thy  troubled 
kirk  to  thy  mercie. 

Because  I  have  had  to  doe  with  diverse  per- 
sonages of  the  ministrie  whereunto  God  of  his 
mercie  directit  me  within  this  Realme,  my 
duty  craveth  that  I  shall  leave  unto  them  now 
a  testimonie  of  my  mynd.  And  first  to  the 
Papists,  and  to  the  unthankful  world,  I  say, 
that  although  my  lyfe  hath  beene  unto  them 
odious,  and  that  often  they  have  sought  my 


283 

destruction,  and  the  destruction  of  the  kirk 
which  God  of  his  great  mercie  planted  within 
this  Realme,  and  hath  alvvise  preserved  and 
keeped  the  same  from  their  cruell  interpryses, 
yet  to  them  I  am  compelled  to  say,  that  un- 
lesse  they  speedilie  repent,  my  departing  of 
this  life  shall  be  to  them  the  greatest  calamitie 
that  ever  yet  hath  apprehended  them.  Some 
small  appearance  they  may  have  yet  in  my 
life,  if  they  had  grace  to  see.  A  dead  man  I 
have  beene  now  almost  these  two  years  by- 
past,  and  yet  I  would  that  they  should  rypelie 
consider  in  what  better  estate  they  and  their 
maters  stand  than  they  have  done  before,  and 
they  have  heard  of  long  tyme  before  threat- 
ned.  But,  because  they  will  not  admit  me 
for  admonisher,  I  give  them  over  to  the  judg- 
ment of  him  who  knoweth  the  hearts  of  all,  and 
will  disclose  the  secreets  thereof  in  due  time. 
And  this  farre  to  the  papists.  To  the  faith- 
full.  Before  God,  before  his  sone  Jesus  Christ, 
and  before  his  holie  angels,  I  protest  that  God 
be  my  mouth  (be  I  ever  so  abject)  hath  shew- 
ed to  you  his  truth  in  all  simplicitie.  None  I 
have  corrupted,  none  I  have  defrauded,  mer- 
chandise I  have  not  made  (to  God's  glorie  I 


284 

write)  of  the  glorious  evangell  of  Jesus  Christ, 
but  according  to  the  measure  of  grace  granted 
unto  me,  I  have  devyded  the  sermon  of  truth 
in  just  parts,  beating  down  the  rebellion  of  the 
proud  in  all  who  did  declare  their  rebellion 
against  God  according  as  God  in  his  law  giv- 
eth  to  me  yet  testimonie,  and  raising  up  the 
consciences  troubled  with  the  knowledge  of 
their  sinne,  be  declaring  of  Jesus  Christ,  the 
strenth  of  his  death,  and  mighty  operation  of 
his  resurrection,  in  the  hearts  of  the  faithfull. 
Of  this  I  say  I  have  a  testimonie  this  day  in 
my  conscience  before  God,  however  the  world 
rage.  Be  constant  therefor  in  the  doctrine 
which  once  publicklie  you  have  professed. 
Let  not  thir  scandalous  dayes  draw  you  away 
from  Jesus  Christ,  neither  let  the  prosperitie 
of  the  wicked  move  you  to  follow  it  or  them. 
For  howsoever  that  God  appeareth  to  neglect 
his  owne  for  a  season,  yet  his  majestie  remain- 
eth  a  just  God  who  neither  can  nor  will  justifie 
the  wicked.  I  am  not  ignorant  that  many 
would  that  I  should  enter  in  particular  deter- 
mination of  thir  present  troubles,  to  whom  I 
plainlie  and  simplie  answer,  that,  as  I  never 
exceed  the  bounds  of  God's  scriptures,  so  will 


285 

I  not  doe  in  this  part  be  God's  grace.  But 
hereof  I  am  assured  by  him  who  neither  can 
deceive,  nor  be  deceived  that  the  castell  of 
Edinburg,  in  which  all  the  murther,  all  the 
trouble,  and  the  whole  destruction  of  this 
poore  commonwealth  was  invented,  and,  as 
our  owne  eyes  may  witnesse,  be  them  and 
their  maintainers  where  put  in  execution,  shall 
come  to  destruction,  maintain  it  whosoevefj 
the  destruction  I  say  of  bodie  and  soule,  ex- 
cept they  repent.  I  looke  not  to  the  momen- 
tarie  prosperitie  of  the  wicked,  yea,  although 
they  should  remaine  conquerors  to  the  coming 
of  our  Lord  Jesus,  but  I  look  to  this  sentence, 
that  whosoever  sheddeth  innocent  blood  de- 
fyleth  the  land,  and  provoketh  Gods  wraith 
against  himself  and  the  land,  till  his  bloode  be 
shedd  a^aine  be  order  of  law  to  satisfie  God's 
anger.  This  is  not  the  first  tyme  that  yee 
have  heard  this  sentence,  although  many  at  all 
tymes  have  sturred  at  such  severitie,  I  yet 
affirme  the  same  being  readie  to  enter  to  give 
an  account  before  his  majestic  of  the  steward- 
ship that  he  committed  to  me.  I  know  in  my 
death,  the  rumours  shall  be  strange.  But  be- 
loved in  the  Lord  Jesus,  be  yee  not  troubled 


28G 

above  measure^  but  remainc  constant,  in  the 
truth,  and  he  who  of  his  mercie  sent  me, 
conducted  me,  and  prosper  the  worke  in  my 
hand  against  Satan,  will  provyde  for  you 
abundantlie,  when  either  my  bloode  shall  water 
the  doctrine  taught  be  me,  or  he  of  his  mercie 
otherwise  provyde  to  put  an  end  to  this  my 
battel. 


THE  END. 


«i«t)k 


Date  Due 

Ap  22  '3g 

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'  > 

m^        »A  (5 

JE  /-'^8 

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, 

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1 

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